Atlantic District Publications

Letters from the President - Andy Walks With Me

November 30, 2009 at 4:47 PM

A blessed Advent to each and everyone within hailing distance of our Communique!  

The old standard hymn “In the Garden” reflects the story of Mary Magdalene’s encounter with Jesus on Easter morning.  The refrain begins, “And…….He walks, with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own…”  In a congregation with many first generation English speakers, more than once I’ve had to face the question, “Who is this Andy, who walks with us and talks with us?”

Advent provides an appropriate answer.  Every year Advent is initiated with a saints’ day on November 30.  That saint is Andrew, the brother of Peter.  Andrew is, from our biblical description, a yentl.  He’s not the center of attention.  He’s somewhere else.  Andrew is around the edges of the crowd.  He’s the introducer, the kind of guy who puts people together, the kind of person who gives off a reflected radiance, whom you seek because of his connection to the source of his own power and strength.  

Three times, Scripture tells us, he brings people to Jesus.  He brings his brother, Peter, to Jesus.  And his brother, not Andrew, becomes the first leader of the Church.  He’s out there in the middle of the groups that throng to hear this new prophet, and somehow people find him, catch that reflected light, and begin the inquiry that leads to salvation – “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”  And he brings them to the Lord.

What a great role model Andrew is for you and me in Advent.  The Light is coming into the world.  It is a time when the darkness of fear and despair and the clouds of uncertainty threaten the faithful and afflict a struggling world.  What better for us to do than to seize the joy that has been given to us in Christ, the Hope for the ages, and engage those streaming past us, out there at the edge of the crowd, and listen to their soul’s needs, and give off that reflected Light, and wait for the inquiry – “sir/ma’am, we wish to see Jesus” – and then point them to the Morning Star of our hearts.  Because I know it’s as true for you as for me by God’s grace through the Promise revealed -  “He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own.”

By the tender mercy of our God,
   the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness
   and in the shadow of death,
   to guide our feet into the way of peace.
            --Luke 1:79-80

Be blessed to be a blessing this Advent-tide.  As your hearts have been prepared, go to the highways and byways of New York, and bring Good Tidings of great joy!