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BY KEVIN SMALLS

Did I ever tell you guys about that time I got a hair cut in the second grade? Well, my mother took me to get a hair cut one weekend and the barber practically shaved all of my hair off with the exception of a few strands.

I could barely see my hair. I was devastated. I knew I would be terribly teased at school.

So, that Monday morning I did something I never did, or do, to this day. I wore a hat.

This straw hat resembled a cowboy hat and it didn?t go very well with a Catholic school uniform. It was terrible. Instead of going to class I sat on the top step crying my eyes out. I refused to go into the classroom to be bombarded with jokes about being bald.

As I stood out there crying, a Catholic nun, Sister Betty, came out and sat next to me and tenderly talked to me. Her persistent questioning led me to reveal my vulnerabilities.

She let me cry in her arms for a while and told me to wait there on the steps. She went down the hall where my classroom was and talked to the teacher. Then she came to get me and take me into the classroom and to my surprise I was never teased that day.

No one called me names or even laughed at me. If Sister Betty had not shared with me words of encouragement and wisdom I would have never had the confidence to leave those steps and face my day.

Faithful sharing is a part of the Discipleship Adventure. Life can be so intimidating, harsh and cruel. And sometimes it?s even like that in the church. But, as we make faithful connections it is absolutely important that we share our faith with someone who is running low on spiritual energy.

Here are a few rules to follow:

• Never be condescending or judgmental when sharing your faith. The purpose of sharing is to let that one individual know that God has not forsaken her and that God rushes love on him as a tsunami does dry land. This is not the time to brag of your virtues and success.
• Know that sharing doesn?t exist to get new members and to ultimately make more money for the church. Sharing is done because we know first hand the power of God?s sacrificial and unconditional love. We have to share it with anyone who will listen.
• When sharing with someone, look at them as though you are looking at Christ. Accept their potential to get through and start over. Forgive them as you have been forgiven and be determined to be their friend as you have been befriended.

It?s called faithful sharing. When we do this we are being faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.

By the way, I never forgot Sister Betty who took the time to sit next to me, collect some of my tears and help me through what was then the worst experience of my life.

A few years ago, I stood by her hospice bed as she was bringing to conclusion a long battle with multiple sclerosis. I held her hand as she began to depart for that land where we?ll never grow old.

This time, it was my turn to share. I thanked her for all she had done for me. She gave me company when I was lonely, she prayed for me when I was struggling, she showed me attention when I doubted myself and she loved me when I didn?t love myself.

Now that?s sharing. You better get going. Someone is waiting for you on the steps ...

The Rev. Kevin Smalls is director of young adults ministries for the Baltimore-Washington Conference.