W. W. J. D. Again!!!

Today has been one of those kinda busy, kinda lazy days...spent lots of time resting and sitting on the patio with a large ice tea and just playing with the puppies. A few weeks ago I got an invite to Facebook.com, and said,"Oh what the heck," and signed up. Amazingly I already have over 100 friends, some from high school and college days that I haven't heard from in years, and interesting some folks who I've never heard of before! I don't get much involved in the causes, quizzes, requests, and other stuff that takes way too much time. I get notes from the kids and grandkids occasionally and I do answer those, and try to answer all personal notes. I bet you are already wondering where in tarnation this is going, so I will get to the point.
During one of my trips inside for more ice tea I stopped by the computer room and checked email and the old Facebook. In the middle of my laziness and do nothingness, there was a thought posted by a dear gentleman that caught my attention and low and behold I responded. His question was, (and I quote by the wonderful act of copy and paste) "......is wondering what questions you would ask if you were interviewing ministers who had experienced a forced termination." Now that set the "Ole Preacher Brain," to spinning and in a splittin' second my fingers were bumping the keyboard, and this is what they wrote (again by copy and paste!):
I would ask no questions other than, "How can I help and be of assistance to you and show you my love?" Most questions have a way of coming over as if it were their fault and that is one thing they just don't need at that time. There will be plenty time for processing as the healing process goes on, whether they were to be faulted or not. I will not add to their grief and yes, anger in any fashion. As a former fellow pastor and presbyter I have experienced loving and praying with those who have endured this indignity and can say from all responses just loving them unconditionally is the best medicine! Love and Blessings!! Len
Now thinking about it, I don't know if this brother was speaking of someone who recently, "got voted out," or just asking someone to go back in personal history 10 or 15 years. But whatever, 6 days or 60 years my answer is the same!! There are some things so personally painful, so anguishingly hurtful that I just can't bring myself to think about approaching that person and asking them anything.
As I understand it our Christ-like business is to give unconditional love and acceptance, and to help those who are in need or are suffering.
Over six years ago now I went through divorce and cancer all in the same year separated by only about a month. To be sure it qualified as the most gut-wrenching painful time of my life. One of the major surprises I experienced were those "friends" who didn't call me and those who did. Some of them I hadn't heard from in years, and whoo, all the way to California and past. Their very tone belied them; they were asking one question after the other, and you could sense their anxiousness for a juicy tidbit for the next "Fellowship Meeting." There was feigned interest in my well being of course , but it was easily seen through. After all if they were all that sincere there would have been more calls over the weeks and months, wouldn't there?? Yep, you got it, they were "one call johnnys."
However, now for the Rest of the Story: There were a few calls, less than 5, who called and said, "Len, I love you, I'm praying for you, what can I do to help you?"
Those wonderful brothers and sisters sustained me with their love and prayers through the darkest night of my soul! The calls were regular, the prayers were powerful. In one of my darkest nights my phone rang after midnight and a familiar voice said, "Len, I sense that you are really suffering tonight, I just called to pray and ask how I can help." Now that brings me back to another post on here...W. W. J. D.?
The Jesus who is the author and finisher not only of our faith, but of absolute unconditional love, asks us to let Him live through us. I know he would have a huge, warm embrace...I know He would say, "I Love You," and, "How will you let me help you through this distressing time?" Oh, and another thing He would say is, "I am with you all the way!!" Yep, that's what Jesus would do!!! So how can I do less????
"HE'S NOT A GOD OF A THOUSAND QUESTIONS, HE'S THE GOD WITH A MILLION ANSWERS...." It is to Him and Him Alone, I bow!!! I stick with my answer!!!!!!!!