September 2006   

On our recent travels we found ourselves stranded and sheltering in a shop doorway in the middle of the most amazing lightening storm in Washington DC. The rain was torrential and seemed determined not to stop. The car was ( as the American’s say ) two blocks away and we had no rain jackets nor umbrellas. Eventually an old gentleman passed by carrying the largest golf umbrella I have ever seen and though below the knees his trousers were soaking wet in the main he was well sheltered and dry. We asked “How far are you going?” to which he replied “How far would you like to go sir?” We explained that the car was two blocks up the road but if he was only going one block then that would be fine. His reply will stay with me for a long time and set my mind thinking. “No sir” he said “ I’ll walk with you all the way “. What an example of a good Samaritan.   Our blessed Lord has of course made it clear that He too will walk with us all the way. No matter how dark the day. no matter how stormy the weather, no matter how steep the climb or for that matter no matter how bright the day, no matter how seemingly easy the path He has promised “I will never leave you nor forsake you”. The promise is given “having loved His own which were in the world He loved them unto the end. There was never going to a moment when they would be without His support either directly or through the other Comforter who would follow Him. The old man’s umbrella was more than adequate to shelter two people – our Lord has the capability to support the totality of His people and has as much interest in providing that support to the one as to the other. To every sheep in the flock He provides the appropriate level of support.   So no matter how far you have to travel, in as many words,  the Lord says to each one of us I’ll walk with you all the way   I. Grant