For the most part, I didn’t mind travelling by myself in my youth. Finding someone to talk to wasn’t hard to do, and travel was exciting and carefree in those early days.
Later, during long-haul family trips (when the kids were small), we learned what hard work was. But the kids eventually became expert travellers and have since gotten me to where we were going—it was all worth it.
Human beings are not designed to be alone. Moving forward is supposed to be a group activity.
Although Jesus prayed alone, he confided with his inner circle (Peter, James, and John), did on-the-road training with all 12, and taught and ministered to many crowds.
When Jesus sent 72 of his disciples on The Limited Commission, he sent them out “two-by-two” (Luke 10). Together they met the basic needs of encouragement, companionship, and safety.
We can’t help but feel for Paul when travelling alone in Athens (Acts 17). Although an intellectual among intellectuals, some of the Athenians treated him as an idiot for preaching that Christ risen from the dead. With his soul already tormented, he stood alone for Jesus in a city overwhelmingly dedicated to idolatry. How much better off he would have been with the brothers at his side.
Late in Paul’s life, he found his Missionary Journeys yet again halted by imprisonment. He was still feeling the lack of support from the brothers from his earlier trial when he wrote: “At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them” (2 Timothy 4:16).
Paul may have been feeling abandoned by those who should have been there for him earlier, however, he was aware that God was sustaining him. There with Paul, in what he believed to be the last of his days on earth, was Luke the physician—his old travelling companion (2 Timothy 4:11).
Everybody needs one!
John Staiger
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