I have a sister who is also a sister. Let me explain.

Betty is my older sister, number one of five children of which I am number four. She already had the lead position firmly cemented by the time I arrived, and I’m sure it was rather disappointing to know she’d have to share a bathroom with yet another little brat… sibling, I mean. If that wasn’t bad enough for her, Janet was still to come.

Being much older, I looked up to Betty. But my opportunities for hanging out with her only happened when forced by Mom. To say we were immediate friends would be a fairy tale. (She would have probably said a Grimm fairy tale – pun intended.) Many years later, when I appeared to be growing up, she decided to give me another chance. Unfortunately, she soon found out that I still wasn’t any good at keeping her secrets and the cold war was on again.

But then my sister became my sister. After a couple of decades of sharing the same family, she also became a member of God’s family! And when she did, she took it seriously and got busy learning the Bible. She quickly passed her younger sister – physically and spiritually. But what a blessing that proved to be for me, who was a little (or a lot) wayward in those days. She inspired me, instructed me, and corrected me when necessary. All these years later, we are so glad we have each other!

Which brings me to Chapter 18 of The Bridge from OneDayBow. Just when Tim really needed some inspiration, encouragement, and friendly correction, Emma unexpectedly appears!  Here’s how it went:

Just then Tim heard some footsteps and looked around to see

Emma walking toward him, as she said, happily,

“I can tell that you’ve been there – you have His Nooma too!”

Tim cheered up and said to her, “I’m so glad to see you!”

And boy was he! His first attempt at sharing the good news of the Kingdom with Makkena Linn had flopped, the tempter’s words totally threw him off, and he was already having second thoughts about living in HereAndNow with no bobbles.  

Emma had been doing this a lot longer than he had. She’d walked in the same shoes – peace shoes, that is – and he could really benefit from what she’d learned. So, he asked:

“Does it ever bother you what people say and think?

Wondering how my friends will act makes my stomach sink!

I don’t care about bobbles, but do want to fit in.

I’ll look real out of place in this outfit I’m wearing.”

Granted, Tim had some legitimate concerns, or so he thought. Emma certainly related to not fitting in with the bobble-head mind set of HereAndNow, but pointed out that they were supposed to look and be different. That’s how people wonder enough to ask questions. But the equipment didn’t need to be a worry because no one else could see it!  (Kind of like an nifty invisible force-field – but real.) Phew, that was a relief! Tim could just picture himself walking into the living room at home and knocking over the litterbox with his shield of faith! Not good…

Speaking of walking home, it was time. In fact, what time was it??? How was he going to explain why he’d been gone so long? Again, Emma to the rescue:

“The Kingdom’s not confined by time and space.”

So that explains how it felt like a lifetime of change in the span of just a few hours! Wow, he had a lot to share with his family… but probably not right away. For now, it was enough that he had Emma to talk to – who was not his girlfriend… yet. “Yep”, Tim may have thought, “I am sure glad we have each other.”

Christian friend, I don’t know where you live in the world, but here in the USA we still have the freedom and privilege to assemble in Churches – and need to be doing so regularly and joyfully. But I’m praying for you, brothers and sisters, in other areas hostile to Christianity, that God will make a way for you to meet together. We have each other, and we need each other because we are His family! But I’m sure you know that far better than I do.