I spent a little time recently with a young man who is going off to war. If you haven’t met him you should. His name is Jesse Shaw and he has been coming to Calvary for a few months. Ben and I got him a Bible because we desire to continue investing our lives into Jesse’s even though he would be thousands of miles away. Jesse is a pretty neat guy who will look you straight in the eye during a conversation. He is excited about what he is about to do, and he is focused. He said he wanted to do his part in this war.

Something Jesse and I talked about has got me thinking this week. He is going away to Kuwait for a year, and when he leaves (which could be any day) he will put his Boiling Springs life on pause. Everything he enjoyed over the last year he will not experience this coming year – birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, family dinners, church, and dates (!Kristen!). Things will definitely change while he is gone. I imagine some restaurants will open along Highway 9, and people will change (new hair styles, growth spurts, etc.), but Jesse will wear the same clothes day after day, he will have the same hair cut month after month, and he will eat the same food…everyday! We have to learn to empathize with his situation.

I think we all find ourselves in this situation from time to time. Something happens, we have to push the pause button, but everything, and everyone, else keeps moving on. We feel left out; we feel like we are on the outside looking in. And once we get back in the game there is a huge learning curve. Frustration builds as a result and anger or bitterness takes root.

The lesson we need to learn from this, whether it is Jesse, Mike, Clay (or anyone going off to war), or somebody whose had to stop because of a prolonged illness is to feel for those whose lives have had to temporarily stop. One greatly need way to minister to people going through this is through constant communication. As the body of Christ we must be His hands and feet to others face "life-pausing" circumstances. We must communicate through personal visits, text messages, Facebook posts, Skype, personal letters and cards, and phone calls. Leave no one behind!

Grace & Peace,

Scott