In the tv comedy drama, Gilmore Girls, the small town of Stars Hollow wasn’t celebrating when the local inn keeper, Lorelai, and the diner owner, Luke, started dating. They were worried about a future break-up so when it came they were ready with a plan – coloured ribbons. You wore a pink one if you supported Lorelai, a blue one if you sided with Luke. The main street shops were even decorated with large ribbons showing their allegiance.
It may be fictional but it’s not far off reality – remember the ‘Team Jen’ and the ‘Team Ange’ shirts which shot to fame after the break-up of picture-perfect celebrity couple Jennifer Anniston and Brad Pitt?
At least Lorelai and Luke, Jen and Ange, had people on their side. People to care for them through the pain and support them. We need that, don’t we? That’s probably why my heart breaks to read about Paul in Second Timothy – facing death and imprisoned, someone who cared for so many seems so alone. He tells Timothy that “everyone from the province of Asia has deserted me—even Phygelus and Hermogenes” (- 2 Timothy 1 v 15). It seems only one person has been willing to face the shame of being associated with him – but thank God for that man!
“May the Lord show special kindness to Onesiphorus and all his family,” Paul tells Timothy, “because he often visited and encouraged me. He was never ashamed of me because I was in chains. When he came to Rome, he searched everywhere until he found me.”
- 2 Timothy 1 v 16-17
Onesiphorus it seems was the only person wearing a ribbon for Paul, the only person willing to buy a ‘Team Paul’ shirt.
Relationship breakdowns are messy and they affect many more then the two or more people involved. It’s easy to see this with romantic relationships but it’s just as true with friendships, families or churches. If you know someone who is suffering through something like that today – maybe a pastor who is no longer welcome at his congregation, a friend split from her husband, a son no longer talked to by his parents – think how you might be able to reach out to them. Visit and encourage them, without judging how they’ve ended up in their current situation.
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