Reachout out across generational & geographic borders

The name of this blog is "just walk across the room," taken from the title of Bill Hybels' book. The idea is of some type of intentional movement toward someone whom we might normally not reach out to. However, the notion of "room" is more figurative than literal. For today's communication technology, particularly e-mail, skype, Facebook, Twitter, etc. somtimes allows this movement toward others without necessarily having to go there geographically.

I found a great example of this today in a story on the ESPN web site. The link is http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/ncf/news/story?id=4846399&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines
The story is titled "Mark Herzlich's Fight Continues."

A year ago, Mark Herzlich seemed to have everything going for him. He had completed a very successful junior football season for Boston College. During that amazing season, he had 81 tackles and 6 interceptions. He won the Atlantic Coastal Conference Defensive Player of the Year award and was a finalist for the Butkus Award given to the top linebacker in college football. He was expected to be a very high choice in the NFL draft after his senior season.

Then his world caved in this past spring. He was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma, a very rare and malignant form of cancer in one of his legs. He went from being a possible top 5 NFL draft choice to wondering if he would have 5 months to live. He underwent chemotherapy.

A 75 year old woman named Sister Barbara Anne Hallman heard about his situation. She was a cancer survivor and was living in a St. Francis Convent in Indiana in the Midwest. She wrote letters (the old fashioned, snailmail way) to 21 year old Mark and said that she was praying for him daily. She regularly prayed for and wrote Mark. Despite their age & geographical barrier, a friendship developed between the two. She seeked to harness a powerhouse of daily prayer for him. Mark described Sister Barbara Ann as "a voice I could hear from and lean on." Her letters were a part of his treatment like his chemo.

He was recently diagnosed as being cancer free.

They actually got to meet in September. From what I saw, she seems like a very joyful, positive person. That also is very powerful in being a witness.

This is a great example of being a witness today. I am aware of some seniors who feel isolated due to a decreasing ability to get out. However, letters provide a way to that they can reach out. I've heard of some seniors writing to many prisoners.

I'm not sure of where Mark stands with the Lord. On the one hand, it does matter, as he and Sister Barbara Ann share the common experience of cancer. If Christ-followers would reach out to others who have are going through trials that they have gone through, then they are able to express Christ's compassion to them. I think this is why God allows us to go through certain trails, so that the comfort and experience that God gives us can be a comfort to others. For those that aren't yet Christ-followers, this often provides the open door necessary.

On the other hand, I hope that this friendship helps draw Mark to Christ if he isn't yet a Christ-follower.

The story asks the question "If prayer is a wish delivered from heaven, can a letter be the same?" Absolutely yes! Being able to tell people that we're praying for them (and actually do so) is another way of reaching out to people.