In the second letter of Paul to Timothy, he entreats Timothy to “Do your best to come before Winter.” 2 Timothy 4:21. An innocent enough conclusion to a letter between friends and colleagues.
How often have we heard similar petitions and not heeded the call. A mother tells a son to come home to see his father one last time, a friend says “come visit” and before we think another thing about the request, disaster has struck and it’s too late, or something mysterious grabs a hold of us and says “come before Winter.” We have all had such calls and feelings.
Or perhaps, Paul’s words have a different meaning. We all have somewhere we are supposed to go with our life. Is he asking that Timothy and in a way all of us, to do our best to go to that place before conditions prevent us from doing so. So today, I ask myself and call on you to ask where are you called to go – “before Winter.” The words “before Winter” also have a different meaning to each of us.
I believe that a call to “come” is not necessarily to a place. We are asked to come where our life is or is meant to be. It is nothing pious, more like a vital urge, but God acts not only by pious emotions, but by vital ones, as well.
“Come before winter” – it is not just a conclusion of a letter to Timothy. It is a message to you and me. Pray that God give each of us the grace to do it.
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