My friend Christy and I were on our way to a bingo night at my son’s high school. I had offered to drive, and we were chatting as we headed toward the school, imagining the cash we were sure to win, enjoying the rare outing together, when suddenly Christy screamed.
The driver of the car traveling next to us had started switching lanes, apparently didn’t see us, and drove into the side of my van.
Christy jumped out of my car, phone in her hand, and approached the other car to ask the driver to pull forward so I could pull over, too. I was a little shaken, but as I watched Christy spring into action, I was relieved to have her there. She’s the kind of person who sees a problem and steps in to help. She had the police department on the phone before I was out of the van.
As the other driver started yelling at me, I was grateful that Christy was there. Thanks to Christy, an officer arrived within minutes. Christy stood with me in the chilly evening air, discussing what had happened, making sure I was calm, and keeping me company.
Christy and I have been friends since our children were in kindergarten together almost a decade ago. We always enjoy our time together, and I was excited when she said she was free to join me for a bingo night. I had certainly never expected anything this exciting to interrupt our drive that evening. In that moment, though, her presence was an unexpected and welcome gift.
It made me think about how so often God puts people in our lives at just the right time. They share their knowledge and their friendship and their understanding. They give of themselves. Sometimes they offer wisdom or encouragement or guidance we use in the moment – or hold onto for years.
We don’t always recognize how important someone might become for us or how we might serve or inspire them ourselves. But there is something marvelous about God’s timing and how he connects us with people at a certain time for a specific reason.
As we approach Easter and focus on the story of Christ’s Passion, we see how different people appear in the story to serve a role only they can fill.
Simon of Cyrene steps up to help Jesus carry his cross. Veronica wipes Jesus’ face. St. John stands at the foot of the cross with the Blessed Mother. While hanging on a cross nearby, Dismas, the good thief, recognizes Jesus as the son of God. Mary Magdalene discovers the empty tomb.
Each of those individuals brings something to Jesus’ life – and also to us as we encounter them in the Gospel.
God made sure his Son did not make the arduous, painful journey to Calvary alone. And he will do the same for us throughout our lives, introducing us to companions who will support, guide and walk alongside us through the happiest moments and the most difficult. Some of them are on earth and some are already in heaven, saints who guide us and pray for and with us on our journey home.
“God sends us friends to be our firm support in the whirlpool of struggle,” St. Maximilian Kolbe said. “In the company of friends, we will find strength to attain our sublime ideal.”
How fortunate we are to find strength and support in our friends – and offer them our love and support in return. We can be sure that those connections are no accident.
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