By Rae Lynn DeAngelis
In the comedic film Meet the Parents, a young woman brings her new fiancé home for the first time. During a private meeting with the girl’s over-protective father, the fiancé is educated about the family’s sacred circle of trust. The fiancé’s attempts to live up to his soon to be family’s perception of the sacred bond creates one humorous situation after another.
A circle of trust is an invisible boundary of sorts that encircles those closest to us. It includes family members and/or close friends with whom we have the privilege of sharing some of life’s more intimate moments.
Even Jesus had a circle of trust. His close knit group included Peter, James, and John. These three disciples were part of Jesus’ inner sphere of influence. They were often asked to accompany Jesus when the other disciples were left behind.
“He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly.” (Mark 5:37-38)
“After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them.” (Mark 9:2)
“They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’ He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,’ he said to them. ‘Stay here and keep watch.’” (Mark 14:32-34)
Jesus understood the importance of having a group of individuals ready and willing to share the good, bad, and ugly parts of life with us. Peter, James, and John saw Jesus perform miracles that had been shrouded from the eyes of others. They witnessed Jesus’ glorious transfiguration atop the mountain, and later they accompanied Jesus to the furthest point in the Garden of Gethsemane before He went on to be alone with His Father. As always, Jesus sets the example for us to follow in our everyday lives. God never meant for us to journey this life alone.
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17)
“If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” (Ecclesiastes 4:10)
Do you have trusted individuals ready and willing to share the good times and bad? Just like Jesus we need a circle of trust.
