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When I was a younger priest, I was privileged to live with Fr. Thomas Waldie. At first, he intimidated me. He was a retired army chaplain, having served in China at the end of World War II; Korea, Viet Nam, and various Army Posts in the U.S. I imagined him to be a priest that I would have nothing in common with because of age, education, and spirituality. He belonged to my parents' generation! But I was in for a surprise.
Father Waldie became my ANACHARA, the Irish word that means a "soul-friend," a true mentor, one who loves you without being jealous, who guides you without being judgmental, who walks beside you without trying to change your pace. Fr. Waldie allowed me to find my true self as I failed and floundered, as I struggled in those confusing days of the 1970's as the Church tried to implement Vatican II into parish life. My peers were leaving the priesthood one after another. Everything seemed to be falling apart, but Fr. Waldie became a rock in my life.
He helped me mature and to fall in love with Jesus Christ. He taught me, by example, the simple life of the priesthood, but the powerful love of Jesus for each one of us. When I was at my lowest, He simply loved me and journeyed with me without judgment or criticism. And imagine, I thought I had nothing in common with him, nor would I learn anything from him. This man, Thomas E. Waldie, was a real saint. He was born into wealth, but lived a simple life of poverty because he discovered, at the age of 17, Christ's unconditional love for him. That was all that mattered to him, Christ's great love for him and for all of us.
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Who is your ANACHARA, "soul-friend?" Who is the one who convinces you that you are good and lovable ? Who loves you with out being jealous, who guides you without being judgmental, who walks beside you without trying to change you? I believe that God puts wonderful people in our lives, right now in 2003, to be true "soul-friends." Who loves you, who believes in you, who stands by you, who affirms you, who encourages you, and who expects nothing back from you? God has put such a person in your life…!
You are blessed by God, and millions of people envy you, if you can name ONE such person. Maybe you are not sure you can name your "soul friend." Maybe there is someone just waiting to be your "soul-friend," but does not feel invited by you. Maybe it will happen to you when you become a "soul-friend" to someone in your life! Can you imagine God calling you to be a very special friend to someone? Can you imagine that these types of relationships are extremely important to our God, to Jesus Christ, and that the Holy Spirit helps us to be "soul- friends?"
As we continue our Christian journey as disciples of Jesus, can you imagine the women and men who were "soul-friends" to Jesus? Who were His close and intimate friends? Who encouraged and supported Jesus? When Jesus was at his lowest point, who was there for him? In 2003, can Jesus count on you and me?
Just imagine that! Can you imagine yourself in that role?
Fr. Bill
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