Love on a Bicycle

Love on a bicycle

The Greek word for Love most often used in the New Testament is the word Agape.  This means a selfless love that is passionately committed to the well-being of others and is modelled on the example Christ set us.   It is the highest kind of love and is sometimes called charity in our older versions of the bible.   Agape has something very important to say to modern times, something that addresses the fragility of what all of us, believer and unbeliever alike, most value in these times, overstepping the limits of mutuality and fairness. (Charles Taylor)  In this season of lockdown we are discovering again the importance of this generous love that looks to help the fragile and needy, no questions asked.


There have been other times when such self-sacrificing love is needed and people give themselves for others in times of crisis or injustice.   I’d like to talk about my friend Shelton as a great example.  

My first memory of Shelton was on a bicycle on a very warm late morning in a small market town on the east coast of Sri Lanka which had just been devastated by the tsunami.   We had arrived with a truckload of supplies for devastated communities in the Tamil Tiger zone nearby.   He was training to become an Anglican priest at the time but like all the students was sent to where the people were suffering.   There were added complications in this town as at night time the streets were controlled by the Tamil Tigers and in the daytime by the army.  Being a Tamil Shelton had to walk a careful line between both sides as he assisted the local minister to help the community.  It was tiring, hot and sometimes dangerous work.  


16 years on and Shelton is now the Vicar of the church I used to work in and I received this email a couple of days ago from a church member:.

The "lock-down" appears to be an opportunity to rekindle family values. Fr. Shelton and the Relief and Rehabilitation Committee, have done a tremendous job distributing food and money to the needy. This included so many not on our regular list. Many parishioners contributed, aware that sharing is a part of Christianity. This, I think, enhanced their belief that as a parishioner of St. Paul's, they too must contribute towards helping the needy.    These unfortunate families, often have no income whatsoever. Fr. Shelton, at much risk to himself, went to each house on his motorcycle, from morning till late evening, often without lunch.

Love in action has move from a bike onto a motorbike but the selfless giving continues.   It is good to be reminded how our church family around the world is serving the needy in the communities in which they are set, no questions asked, all are welcome.   


Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.  John 12:24