A Growth In Holiness And Friendship

I must say that it is nice traveling through the Holy Land as pilgrims on a journey. Some days are full of excitement and new discovery. Other days are busy with classes, where we absorb new material, and then pray, walk around the local area, or just be with friends. We can take our time and really live the experience of the Holy Land. 

As it so happens, today is one of our usual class days, during which we see nothing that we haven’t already seen and we don’t venture out beyond anything already within walking distance. And it is days like these when the Lord gives us his best surprises. Not every day has been a surprise of seeing something new, but every day sees new surprises of friendship. We are pilgrims together, walking the path of Christ together, learning the way of holiness together. Nothing bonds Christian brothers more than this. Even with six new students to our 3rd Theology class, it seems as if we walk as one. This doesn’t mean there are days when we won’t struggle. There are bumpy days, but we try to make the best of them. 

As friends we laugh in the same places that Jesus and Lazarus laughed in, and as friends we pray the Psalms where David and Jonathan prayed. One of the best ways to grow in holiness is to do so with the help of another. And while traveling on this pilgrimage together we are doing exactly that. “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17)