8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.
Sometimes as an employee, as a servant, as a very close friend, you end up doing things that might not make a lot of sense. I think this was one of those times for these three men who were with Saul. A couple days earlier their friend was on his way to kill Jesus-followers. Right in the middle of the trip he is blinded and claims to have been spoken to by an angel of some sort. He has not eaten since then. He now tells you to go to a specific place and talk to a specific person by a specific name. Your friends says that he has seen another heavenly being and talked to him. You know for a fact that your friend is probably wigging out, but you go anyway as a kindness to him. The three of you start on the journey. There is probably an awkward silence until one of you says something about how you are feeling. The silence is overwhelmed with your comments of concern for your friend, but you keep walking. There might even be some joking about your whole mission to Joppa. Have you ever done a favor for a friend who you thought had lost it? I have! You care about them so much that you are willing to look foolish with them. You become part of the joke that follows all of you the rest of your lives. It is a great story to tell on yourself to your grandchildren. You tell it first so that no one else gets the opportunity to tell it without you knowing it. Other people’s first reaction is to look at you and snicker. But you don’t care. You are so connected to your friend that you take the ridicule with him or her. You stand side by side in the shame. As Jesus-followers we get to stand side by side with many people who have undergone shame. Those around the world who are suffering because of their faith need people to stand by their side, to be willing to be identified with them and their suffering. The disenfranchised here in this country need people to stand with them. Those dealing with mental illness need someone to stand at their side. Are you standing at anyone’s side?
The Arnold Journey 