Listen

“Again I assure you that if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, then my Father who is in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I’m there with them.”

Matthew 18:19-20

Think

During my years at summer camp, we swore by the buddy system. Every camper had a buddy, and every camper was expected to stay with that buddy at all times. Swimming? Buddy system. Hiking? Buddy system. Leaving your tent for the bathroom at 2:00 in the morning? Better wake up that buddy—walking through the woods in the dark was an even more important time to use the buddy system.

This system was crucial for safety, but it also worked for other reasons. It meant that everyone always had a built-in friend. I like to think this is the reason Jesus sent out his disciples in pairs (Mark 6:7) and promised to join them whenever two or three were gathered. He knew that the buddy system didn’t just keep people safe; it kept their spirits up, too.

When I’m feeling low, I often call a friend and ask them to pray with and for me. When I do, I know that Jesus is present. The buddy system hasn’t failed me yet.

Catherine Healy

Question to Ponder:

Who is part of your spiritual “buddy system”?

Pray

God of love, thank you for the gift of friendship. Send good people into my life to be friends to me, and give me the compassion and patience to be a friend to them too, so that we may all know we are not alone. Amen.

Go

“Be strong, be fearless, be beautiful. And believe that anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you.”

– Misty Copeland, American ballet dancer