JMJ

“Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.”

I really love this quote by Pope John Paul II. I can see how he had to live this sentiment growing up in Poland, first under the arm of Nazi Germany and then behind the Iron Curtain of the Soviet Union. His perseverance in fighting the battle for religious freedom came from a refusal to despair.

It is this mindset I have prayed for after finding out that my best friend from grade school is in the midst of ending his second marriage after spending several nights in jail for spousal abuse. The news broke from his wife, who called me on Palm Sunday with the news that she had to call the police on a man that I consider my brother. She had caught a glimpse of his cell phone that had evidence of infidelity and confronted him when he was drunk. The argument go physical and it ended up with him spending the next two days in jail. I had to convince her that it was not her fault and that she did the right thing. Those were some of the toughest words I ever had to say.

To compound my sorrow, he has not returned my messages reaching out with support and a sympathetic ear. Throughout the dissolution of his first marriage he had gone on radio silence and not shared any issues that he and his first wife were having. He also suffered from depression aggravated from Meniere’s Syndrome which grounded him from his career as a pilot. He told me that the shame he felt was too great to share and he kept his pain to himself. After assuring him he always had a sympathetic ear, I reminded him that our faith assures us that our God hears us in our despair. He was baptized Catholic but after no religious training as a child had briefly been involved with the church through his first wife’s influence. As their relationship crumbled, his resentment of his wife transferred to his faith and he couldn’t let Christ heal him as he wouldn’t even forgive himself.

His second wife was non-denominational but she did convince him to try religion again. He attended church with her but once again lost hope and faith as their relationship struggled and after the death of both of his parents in back to back years. He also was disowned by one of his brothers for issues related to his parents’ estate. He lapsed into depression again. I haven’t gotten the chance to ask him, but I don’t think that he has ever heard that we are an Easter people. I think he joins many Christians who don’t know the call to rejoice, for He has risen. Alleluia. I pray that I get the opportunity to convince him to give Jesus another chance to heal his heart, soul and mind. There are 50 days to the Easter season but really we get to have the hope of the risen Christ all the time. Please take a moment to offer up my friend and I know that I am praying for all of you.

God bless you.

Copyright 2018 Mark Andrews

Mark Andrews

Mark Andrews is a husband, a father, lector, singer, and Knights of Columbus member. Mark's novel The Joy of the Lord is a historical fiction about the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. It is available at Amazon in both paperback and Kindle.