Making Ministry Happen . . .

HTM-International


She appeared at the door all sweaty, hair matted and a visible though muted tremor in her legs. I pushed a chair her way and invited her to sit. As she sat, she introduced herself as the patient’s wife. That didn’t matter to me at that time. “Are you well?” I asked. “O, I am doing okay. I just bicycled forty-five miles from home. I don’t have the money to fuel my car, but I need to see my husband.” Her love for this man washed over me. I needed the chair!


Surely, she could have called and saved her the forty-five mile bicycling trouble. She could have . . ., but that is not what she did. She came. No obstacle was going to obstruct her from seeing her beloved husband, even though he was unable to talk to her. Her visit was not about the rewards of hearing her husband talk. It had nothing to do with a possible light of joy that would dance in his eyes at seeing her. Her love for this man commanded her presence beside him during this difficult time of illness. Love demanded close contact. Period.


I found myself reflecting on God’s love for our world. The Bible says, “God so loved the world, he gave His only begotten son . . .” In giving, God came without regard of the myriad obstacles that presented before him. His love commanded that He come. I found myself confronted with the Scripture that pleads with every Christian, “let the mind that was in Christ be also in you.” Even though He was God, Jesus came among us in humility and service. My “beloved” are the people for whom Christ died – here, there and everywhere. Am I doing everything I can to be present with them in their time of need? Are you?


Joseph P. Hama, Ph.D., BCC