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At Arm's Length

I have this friend. Let's not use his name. Let's not even assume that you know him. But just know that, unlike so many assume, this is not an imaginary friend. He exists and he needs help. My help. Help that I feel unable to provide. Not because of lack of time or lack of desire. Not because of distance or lack of know-how. It's just that the help needs to be....good? big? timely? inspiring?

Perhaps all of these at once, which I why I am inadequate.

Inadequacy is not a new feeling, and not even one I am uncomfortable with. I know I am not alone in this. As I've blogged recently, I've been reading through 1 Samuel. This guy David lived a very wild life. At one moment he is taking down giants, the next he is hiding in a cave. It would seem that he only knows how to win in battle.

Yet he has this friend, Jonathan. Dave and Jon are the best of friends, both with needs that the other could help with. And yet...they are unable to do so. There exists this force inbetween them, otherwise known as Jon's dad, Saul. It would seem as though, during their lives, David was trying to reach out to help Jon and vice versa. However, they were always out of reach because of this force.

Ever felt a force like that keeping you at arm's length from those you feel called to help? I have. I imagine that somewhere inbetween me and my friend is another guy named Jesus. While at times it seems frustrating that he does not allow me to take the hand of every friend in trouble, I picture Him reaching out to me with one hand and to my friend with another. In a way that only Jesus can, He provides a bridge to cross what was once a great divide.
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