Stand by Him

A Stephen King novel was turned into a movie called “Stand by Me.”  It’s about four teenage boys & an adventure.  The theme song was written by Ben E. King.  A portion of it is as follows –

When the night has come

And the land is dark

And the moon is the only light we’ll see

No, I won’t be afraid

Oh, I won’t be afraid

Just as long as you stand by me.

If the sky that we look upon

Should tumble & fall

Or the mountain should crumble to the sea

I won’t cry, I won’t cry

No, I won’t shed a tear

Just as long as you stand by me.

Holy scripture is full of faithful friends:

Ruth & Naomi,

the prophets Elijah & Elisha,

Jesus & the disciples, &

Peter, James, & John who witnessed the Transfiguration.

As the voice from the cloud, God’s voice, stated on the Holy mountain, “Listen to him.”  They were not to build monuments & stay on the mountain top, they were to be in conversation with Jesus & to get on with mission.  And so are we, so are we to engage in conversation, to live in community, & to be on mission.

In conversation, on mission, God is with us.  As St. Paul wrote, “Nothing will separate us from the love of God.”  God will forever “stand by” us.