A dear friend of mine’s son has been struggling tremendously with his mental health. The battle has been taking a serious toll on his mother, my friend. We will call her Emily. Feeling isolated and afraid to share, for fear of judgement or his personal struggle becoming public, she has bottled it all up. Recently, it became apparent to Emily that she needed to reach out to a near stranger to provide the support, assistance, and knowledge she needed to best help her son. There was no better way. My friend procrastinated for months and then an extreme dive in his health provided the push she needed to step out of her comfort zone and knock on a door of man she had only seen in passing nearly a decade earlier at her daughter’s sporting events.
Emily explained to me how she had pep talked herself for two days to get up the courage to venture to the stranger’s home to seek information she needed to determine the path of treatment for her son. My friend had nearly talked herself out of it as she entered his yard. With her fear mounting, this poor woman had to go back to her car and sit and pray to regain the focus and humility she needed to proceed. After taking a deep breath, she bee-lined to speak to this man that God had whispered could help. She had intended only to ask this man a fact based question to clarify an important detail in her daughters care, but instead she found hope, consolation, and a man willing to be vulnerable. He offered her the details of his daughter’s journey, hope for change, his prayers, and continued support.
Emily had been met by a man whose daughter had struggled through a nearly identical battle as her son. This near stranger encouraged my friend to continue to support and love her son where he was, but to take the next step. He was a man of faith, a man of integrity, a caring man, a real man, a man of God, and disciple of Christ.
Emily’s story led me to reflect. How often are we faced with struggles and feel so alone? When are we given the option be real and pass? Have we been given the opportunity to lift up another and decline because we do not have the time or energy to engage? Has there been a time when we have had the option to share our faith but do not?
This man, who hardly knew my friend and certainly did not remember her, could have easily and quickly answered Emily’s question and brushed off the coincidence that had seemed to be present in the parallel stories. But he did not. This compassionate man opened his heart and cared. He spoke words of kindness and gentleness to my hurting friend, offering her consolation and understanding that she had not felt anywhere else.
Emily could see the pain on his face as he shared his daughters struggle. He opened his heart and soul to her, allowing God to enter into that moment. Are we willing to be vulnerable and open like this man was with my dear friend? His willingness infused my friend with hope and allowed her to determine the most appropriate approach and specialized care for her son. “Therefore, we are not discouraged; rather, although our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16.
Call to Act: Begin to be acutely aware of where God is asking you to open your heart and share your struggle. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide your words in the times you feel called to open up. Be a vehicle of Christ’s love just as this near stranger was for my dear friend. Your battles may offer the encouragement that someone else needs to rise above their seemingly isolating struggle. The Lord places people in our paths for a purpose. Nothing is coincidental!
St. Camillus, pray for us as we minister to each other in our times of need. Ask the Lord to give us the courage to open our hearts to those in need and serve those in despair. Beg the Lord to allow us to reach all those who He places in our paths, sharing our vulnerability, struggles, faith, hope, and love. Pray that we may recognize when the Lord is asking us to speak. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Saint Camillus de Lellis
St. Camillus was born in Italy in the 1500s. He grew up without guidance from his father after his mother died when he was young. Camillus was drawn to gambling and was a soldier in the Venetian army. He contracted a chronic infection in his leg which prevented him from doing as he desired for the rest of his life. His friend and spiritual guide, St. Philip Nero, encouraged him to study for the priesthood after a serious conversion took place when Camillus heard a stirring sermon by a Capuchin friar. Shortly after being ordained, St. Camillus founded the Camellians and concentrated on caring for the sick. He and his order served those sick in their homes, many who suffered from the plague, as well as, the troops fighting in Hungary and Croatia. Read more about him here: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-camillus-de-lellis