Forlorn

The 1st of several posts recalling life impacting experiences in my travels as a follower of Jesus:

I had heard about the church in parts of the world where the government takes a strong interest in keeping religion expressions regulated more than I had actually experienced it.  So it was a remarkable experience for me to actually get to know people who lived in this situation.  The young emerging leader who hosted me was already carrying great responsibility since the leader of the movement was in jail for his faith.  This young leader spoke English well and thus I was able to really get to know him.  He became a friend to me.   He shared his life with me as a real person with dreams, goals and a desire to live for Jesus and express this as a leader in the church and into the world even at great potential cost.  No longer did I see only a category of static one-dimensional persecuted church leaders.

He came to the hotel to see me off as I left for the airport.  We were sitting outside chatting when a man came walking up to us.  He said, “There are security people watching you.  I am a pastor and we have a church next to this hotel and our meeting starts in a little bit.  Could you leave so the security officials are not around when my church members arrive?”

So I drove off in a taxi and the last I saw my friend he was standing forlornly, wistfully, watching me leave.  I flew off to my normal life.  He returned to looking over his shoulder.