Here today, Gone Tomorrow

I recall many years ago, shortly before graduating from high school, sitting in a park with my best friend. After striking up a conversation with us, a stranger broke the bad news to us. “You probably will never see each other after graduation.” We were angry and sad, and determined to prove the stranger wrong.

It has been nearly forty years since that day, and my friend and I remain connected. We proved the stranger wrong, but it wasn’t without effort. Over the years our lives grew busy and eventually we lived in different states, many miles apart. We have not allowed any opportunity to connect with each other to escape us. Every birthday and holiday, we connect.

I am thankful for our friendship, but I acknowledge there were many other ‘friends’ which I have never seen again. The stranger wasn’t ‘all’ wrong. As we grow and our lives change, the people in our lives also change. The only thing that can stop growing apart is intentional effort to remain connected.

TIMOTHY, my son, do your best to come to me soon. For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you; for he is very useful in serving me. Tychicos I have sent to Ephesos. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpos at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will requite him for his deeds. Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. At my first defense no one took my part; all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength to proclaim the message fully, that all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

2^nd Timothy 4.9-22

In today’s lesson from Saint Paul, we hear about an estranged relationship between Saint Paul and Demas who, “in love with the present world,” departed their relationship. We don’t know if Demas ever returned to the Church. What we do know is that the temptations of the world were too great, and he fell away.

It happens that quickly. It is that easy to fall into temptation. One day we are fervent members of the Church, singing and praying together. The next moment, life takes a turn, and we find ourselves walking away.

That’s right! I’m comparing us to Demas, not Saint Paul. If we are not vigilant against temptation, we are the ones who will walk away. Human relationships are difficult enough. Our relationship with the Church faces much more than ‘just’ living in different cities.

We face demons around every turn who tempt us with glory in the world. Why should we bother sitting in Church when we could be having fun on the beach! We also face ourselves, and our passions. Remaining in a relationship with the Church can very quickly become a burden if we don’t love it.

Demas was in love with the world. Saint Paul was in love with Christ. If we do not love Christ and His Church, when things get difficult, which they always do, we walk away. Christmas is one of those times we face the choice. Do we focus on Christ, or attend another ugly sweater party?

The Church asks us to fast, but our friends serve prime rib. The Church asks us to give to the poor, but our friends host gift exchanges with dollar limits. Our friends invite us for a holiday cruise, but the Church invites us to attend additional services for prayer.

The next thing we know, it is Christmas Eve, and we find ourselves not knowing what time Church starts. We rush to sit in the pews for a few minutes, only to leave early because dinner is waiting. We don’t receive Holy Communion because we didn’t prepare, but we didn’t prepare because we were too busy loving the world.

It has happened. We walked away. We still call ourselves Orthodox Christians but have long since stopped living as Orthodox Christians. Another year goes by, and another rush to the pews. This time someone else is sitting in ‘our’ pew.

We feel rejected. The Church never even called us to see where we disappeared to. By the next year, we may not even sit for a few minutes in the pews. It isn’t the Church’s fault, nor the priest. It is our fault because we were in love with the world instead of Christ. One day we were here in the Church, one day we were gone.

Whether you already walked away, or you are starting to stray, it isn’t too late. I will presume, since you are still reading today’s blog, that you are either still in the Church or at least want to return. Good news! You can always return. Not so good news! You can just as easily fall away.

The choice is yours. Will you be here today and gone tomorrow?