BIBLE W3 D5 Timothy's Faith (2 Tim 1:1-7)

To me, Paul's 2nd letter to Timothy is quite different from his other epistles (letters to people and churches). It is much warmer than most of his other writing as shown by today's passage. Here we see Paul writing to Timothy as a spiritual advisor or perhaps a friend, warmly remembering his faith history and encouraging him to do the most with his faith.

Reading the second time (from the heart), we are to consider the bullet points on p.40. These ask if we would benefit from having a faith friend or spiritual advisor and then who in the Bible we would like as that spiritual advisor. Besides the obvious choice (Jesus), I would pick Paul. He seems to have many different sides to him and his faith. He struggled with pain, he encouraged young people, he could stand strongly against evil, and yet he had a softer side. These are all things I deal with so I would choose Paul, although I benefit from paying attention to all the people in the Bible.

Having a spiritual advisor can be very helpful. I usually lean on my pastor for this role or recently I met with one of the monks while visiting the monastery (http://georgevisitsholycross.blogspot.com/2009/10/conversation-with-brother-adam.html) and these people can help you greatly in developing your faith. But they are very different from a spiritual friendship.

I had a deep spiritual friendship in college with Kari. Kari was a fellow chemistry major. We met at a campus ministry retreat and became friends and then partners studying the various chemistry and physics courses together. But mostly we spent time talking about what was going on in our lives and how that was impacted by faith, and the intersection of faith with careers, events and relationships. We were so close that when I started dating Kristen, she was at first confused because evidently a few people on campus thought Kari was engaged to me, rather than Bill. (As an aside, Kari and Bill are Becca's - our lead singer from the talent show - parents, and their family can lay claim to getting me interested in the 30 hour famine.)

Today I have wide circle of spiritual friends (The Men's group, you J2A folks, some of your parents, etc.), but Kristen holds the title of my primary spiritual guide and friend. One of the things I value most in our marriage is our ability to share faith experiences and wrestle with the meaning of God in our lives. We've been able to do this through some of the highest joys and of course the deepest sorrows as well. It's hard to beat a spiritual friend who knows 25 years of your faith history.

So make God a part of your friendships... the impact on your lives can be huge.