Companions for the Road

There are many parts to the role of Joint CEO of Rural Ministries. To be honest there are a few admin duties that definitely DO NOT light a fire in my soul. But there are moments that do. During this past 10 days I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside others in beautiful, natural surroundings as they discern the movements and invitations of God in the context of their own lives and calling, having space to simply share stories of outdoor church, or the pilgrim roads we find ourselves walking.

In Dunkeld, Perthshire, a few of us from the Outdoor Church Collective, alongside Alan Taylor of Sacred Spaces (www.sacredspaces.community) walked the Hermitage Trail. Another time, in Northumberland, RM joined up with Fliss Barker from Wooler URC and St Cuthbert’s Way Churches Together (www.scwchurches.co.uk) to host a one-day pilgrimage from Wooler to Cuthbert’s Cave. In the Scottish Borders I joined Peter Wood and a few others from Church of Scotland on one leg of their pilgrimage as they walked the 70-mile Forth to Farne Way, which runs along this stunning coastline all the way to Lindisfarne.

Pilgrimage is a journey often undertaken for deeply personal reasons, and yet there are always others who walk along the path with us, companions to share the experience. It reminds me of the old monastic idea of ‘alone together’. We may be alone in our motivations or alone in the way we respond to what the pilgrimage throws at us, but we walk with our companions.

There are times when we feel weak, in body, mind and/or spirit, and we feel like giving up. That’s when we need the comfort and support of others, we need encouragement from our companions. Remember that the root word for courage is coeur, the French word for heart. To offer encouragement therefore, is to speak to the heart. Our hearts and our flesh fail us at times, but God is the strength of our hearts and our portion (Psalm 73); and Jesus too reminds us, take heart dear friends, have courage for I have over come [paraphrase mine].

All through Holy Scripture we witness the people of God in need of help and the companionship of others. Like Moses, who needed others to hold up holy hands; or Saul who needed the kindness of others to take him in after his experience on the road to Damascus; like Ethiopian who needs the wisdom and guidance of Phillip on the road. And the woman at the well, who needed Jesus to help her reimagine a better way and inject some hope in her life. Perhaps even perhaps like Jesus himself who needed a drink at that very well, who needed her bucket (I notice that scripture doesn’t actually record her ever getting him some water); or maybe when Jesus needs his friends to stay awake for him in the garden. Whatever story we draw from, it is clear that we are made for union with God, but we’re also made to walk this pilgrimage of life with others, with companions, as I’m sure your own lived experience will testify.

I invite you to pause and spend a moment giving thanks for those who companion you through life’s pilgrimage, the ones who you walk the long, undulating paths with, loved ones, family, a spouse, deep friends.

What about others in work and ministry – people in your church or mission, those who minister alongside you, elders, leaders, volunteers, those who kneel shoulder to shoulder with you in prayer?

In the Celtic tradition there are two words/phrases that are helpful.

-          Cymbrogi – companions of the heart. Brothers and sisters to journey with, closely in matters of everyday life, matters of the heart, the ups and downs; they are there through thick and thin, deep friendship covenant.

-          Soul Friend/Anam Cara – Fosters a unique relationship based on a profound spiritual connection. An anamcara understands the unique essence of one’s souls and can reflect that back to them. This relationship could be a spiritual director or someone with whom you journey closely with in spiritual friendship and guidance, a relationship of healing and companionship.

I wonder if you could name people that you have in your life who fit into either of these categories? Perhaps there are cross overs between these two concepts. Sometimes life doesn’t fit neatly into boxes.

Sometimes, there are companions who have once been close to us but no longer are. Sometimes they leave us too early; sometimes they move away; sometimes paths of life simply take different directions; maybe that’s OK. Is there something that needs lament, or perhaps a moment in prayer, inviting Jesus into that place in your heart that holds hurt?

However you find yourself responding to these prompts, let’s remember that we’re made for companionship, and we live out our time here on earth in the company and deep connection of others. If the joy of this is absent from your life, then perhaps Jesus is inviting you to explore this further. How might you bring these desires and movements of the heart to him in prayer today?

To close I’ll leave you with these words from John O’Donohue:

May you be blessed with good friends,

And learn to be a good friend yourself,

Journeying to that place in your soul where

There is love, warmth, and feeling.

May this change you.

May it transfigure what is negative, distant,

Or cold within your heart.

May you be brought into real passion, kindness,

And belonging.

May you treasure your friends.

May you be good to them, be there for them

And receive all the challenges, truth, and light you need.

May you never be isolated but know the embrace

Of your anam cara

-from For Friendship, To Bless the Space Between Us.

Blessings,

Jon

Jon Timms

Joint CEO, Rural Ministries