I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings… (Philippians 3:10).

Frankly, I know very little about sharing in Christ’s sufferings.  Up to this point, my walk with God has been relatively smooth, and my pain has been confined to the internal struggle-with-sin-and-try-to-live-for-God-while-living-in-a-broken-world variety.  I have not suffered for my Lord; I have certainly not suffered like my Lord.

I’m not sure I can say that I want to.  

Sorry…did that disappoint you?

I mean, I want to be a man of God, but the cost…is…sobering.  If the day comes that I’m called upon to share in His sufferings, I hope I’m up to the task.

That’s not to say I don’t know a little bit about the fellowship of suffering.  I have shared tears and pain and death and heartache and loss and I hate it.  I hate death.  I hate pain.  I hate loss.  I hate the powerless feeling that comes with sitting at the bedside of a dear friend and watching him struggle with the knowledge that his body doesn’t work right and might never work right again.  I hate asking how he’s feeling after having his veins scorched with chemo and his cells fried with radiation.

And yet (Thank God, there’s an “And yet”)

And yet…I have never been closer to my friend than I have been these last weeks.  I have never seen him stronger, or more vulnerable, or more real.

I have never seen him reflect Christ more clearly than he does right now.

What about you, Beloved?  Have you known the fellowship of suffering? IF you haven’t, you will.  I’m sorry for you.

And glad.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.