Sheila Sims Iding
"When you walk through the storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark....
Walk on, through the wind
Walk on, through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown…
Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone.
You'll never walk alone.
Most of us know that song. Most of us could start singing it after the first two lines. And when we sing it…it’s one of those songs that sticks in your mind for the rest of the day. It’s a powerful melody. It’s a powerful lyric. It’s a powerful song.
I think of it often as, those of you who know me best, know that I hate to be alone. Many people enjoy some alone time. My sister is one of them. She likes her solitude…her own space…her alone time. Many of you do. It’s almost therapeutic for some. I am jealous. For me…being alone is a cause to seek therapy. I don’t have to be around LOTS of people…just not alone.
While I wish it was different and I admit to being envious of the “like-to-be-alone” people, no one likes to be alone all the time. Or at least they shouldn’t. And there are times no one should be alone.
There are times of trouble and sadness and difficulty and fear when it is better shared with someone else. There are times when you are unsure, unhappy and unresolved and it’s hard to be there alone. There are celebratory times, good times and giving times when you need someone else to share with.
And God knew that. Jesus knew that. And on this Pentecostal Sunday we are reminded of it. Jesus came back from the dead so we wouldn’t have to be alone. Easter Sunday we celebrated the resurrection and Jesus was back with us. The alone-ness of that Friday afternoon some 50 days ago was filled with the company of Jesus’ glorious return. We wouldn’t have to walk alone.
But Jesus couldn’t stay forever (I’m still not sure why.) and He had to return to heaven. Imagine the fear of the disciples when He told them He had to go home. I think of that all the time. If my dad stopped by the family room to watch the Tigers…I would want him to stay forever. If Andy showed up at the hockey rink for a skate…I would never want to lose him again. Don’t we all wish for just one more day with someone we’ve lost. The disciplines lived that. They got their one more day. They got 40 of them. And to lose Him again had to be devastating.
But Jesus knows our hearts and He said “I will not leave you alone…I will send you the Holy Spirit.” And so He did. And all you have to do is believe in Jesus to know that you are not alone. The Holy Spirit is as close as your heart. Oh the proximity of that! Wasn’t that clever of Jesus?
That worry you have that keeps you up all night…you are not alone.
The devastation you feel when your father goes home to heaven…you are not alone.
The angst that fills you as you watch your child struggle…you are not alone.
The patience you have helping an aged parent walk…you are not alone.
The peace that overtakes you when you feed your newborn baby at 2:00 a.m….you are not alone.
The gentleness you use to hold a homeless kitten…you are not alone.
The self-control you have during a heated soccer match…you are not alone.
The kindness that envelops you as you give back to others…you are not alone.
The fear that overwhelms you when the doctor gets the test results…you are not alone
The faithfulness you have as you kneel by the Mary statue in church…you are not alone.
There might have been times when other people weren't around and you thought you were alone...but you weren't. The panic in the emergency room...you were not alone. .The sadness as you buried a pet..you were not alone. The nervous energy before they called you in for the interview...not alone. The joy when your child ran and jumped in your arms...not alone. The goodness as your family worked the church dinner for the poor and homeless...not alone. The helplessness after an accident, the love you felt as you walked your daughter down the aisle. the joy of a soldier coming home...not alone...not alone...not alone.
Jesus knew we couldn’t do it alone. He knew we would need Him. And when He couldn’t stay by our side, He sent us the Holy Spirit. Today on Pentecost we celebrate that He gave us the Holy Spirit to help us make good choices so we wouldn’t have to succumb to temptation. He gave us the Holy Spirit to help us know how to follow Him so we wouldn’t have to wonder if we are doing the right thing. And He gave us the Holy Spirit to help our faith grow so that when you stand before the Crucifix and feel the awe you can be assured of the Holy Spirit at work.
Most simply, He gave us the Holy Spirit so that you could know that you can “walk on, walk on with hope in your hearts and you’ll never walk alone. " Isn't that the most comforting feeling? You’ll never walk alone.”