Thought for the Week
October 19, 2024
It was in the early 80’s. I was on an international music tour with the Southern College orchestra, our Adventist college located in Tennessee. We were visiting Russia, Romania, and Estonia, which at that time, was ruled by the communist government. The government presence was prevalent everywhere and religious freedom was scarce. It seemed that on every corner, there were structures that resembled old-fashioned telephone booths. A guard watched from each booth and picked up a phone to frequently report on what he saw. There were devices in our hotel rooms in which people could listen in on our conversations. We were not allowed to meet as a large group for worship. However, we were allowed to meet daily in small groups, each assigned to a teacher who gave us inspirational instruction for the day.
We didn’t advertise ourselves as a Christian college, and all our music was classical; however, toward the end of our tour, an Adventist Pastor attended one of our concerts. He introduced himself, to our orchestra conductor, asked details regarding our next performance. Then he asked if he could visit with orchestra members at our hotel. We waited for him, but he never came. We learned that he was put in jail overnight because he contacted us.
At our next concert, a couple came up to our orchestra conductor, introduced themselves, asked details regarding our next performance, and asked if they could visit with orchestra members at our hotel. This time, the couple made it to the hotel; however, when they arrived, they were escorted to a side room and were interrogated for hours. When we questioned our tour guide the next morning, he told us that the hotel didn’t allow the couple to meet with us, because it was for our protection.
During our last concert, an Adventist Pastor introduced himself and asked if he could visit with some of our orchestra members. This time, he asked to visit with one of the professors of music. His wish was granted. Then, one by one, each of us from our professor’s class came a few minutes apart went to visit our professor for “instruction.” I feel so fortunate to be part of the group chosen to be part of our professor’s class. The Pastor spoke English. He told us about the hardships of pastoring so many churches, and the difficulty getting young people to become pastors, because of the danger it entailed. We prayed together, and then we sang together. The last song we sang was, “Blest Be the Tie That Binds.”
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
Before our Father’s throne, we pour our ardent prayers; our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our cares.
We share each other’s woes, our mutual burdens bear; and often for each other flows the sympathizing tear.
When we asunder part, it gives us inward pain; but we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.
To this day, I cannot sing that song without the memory of a group of students and professors gathered around a Pastor concerned for his church and his people. I look forward to the day, when all of God’s people will gather around God’s throne, to worship in freedom and unity.
After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throneand from the Lamb!” Revelation 7:9-10
During this week, thank God for the freedom we still have to worship Him, and look for ways to help others experience that freedom, too.
--Tracy