So I’ve been thinking – and when I think it usually gives me something to write. So under that theory, I guess I haven’t really been thinking since last May. (I wouldn’t get many arguments there!) But anyway, I’ve been thinking . . .
I’m currently sitting in a 2 bedroom apartment in Wilmington with a card table, an aero-bed, and a Play Station. I’m also currently waiting for my family to arrive. You see we’ve been apart now for the past 70 days with an occassional weekend visit. I’ve missed my family – but it’s ok because they are getting closer by the minute. I-40 and a red Blazer will get them close to me! What I’ve been thinking about is the importance of being close to those you love. In particular, I mean close in the terms of proximity and location. I can be emtionally close to someone, but there’s something to be said for being physically close to your family. When Dawn, Abby Ethan and I are at the same locale, we’ll be able to see each other, read books, go to the playground, have dinner together, laugh and cry! Being close is powerful and I can’t wait!
Being close to someone is one of those empowering things in life. We are motivated to get close to someone when we want to fall in love. On the other hand, once we are in love, we are motivated to be close to them which creates a deeper love and a deeper desire to be close – and the cycle goes on. So I guess being close in proximatey creates and maintains love!
And so, there is a deep passion for me to be close to my family. That makes sense -I’m in love with them. But what doesn’t make sense, is why I (and maybe even other church goers) don’t make an effort to be close to those that Jesus made a point to be close to – the poor, the hungry, the lonely, the imprisoned, the naked, and the list goes on. Does it have something to do with who we are in love with? I was reading a book by Shane Claiborne. He told a story of how a church gave microwave popcorn as a gift to the homeless. They weren’t close to the poor. Those who are in the trenches (close) with folks love them the most. Those who are close to youth, love and serve youth. Those are close to the homeless, love and serve the homeless. Take it from someone who is now far away from the things that he loved, being close is worth it all. We were meant (and even called) to be close to _________. God will help us all fill in the blanks.
I grew up hearing a statement - ”Close only counts in horeshoes, handgranades and slow dancing.” Until now, that made sense. Now – I’m pretty sure being close means everything!
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Well well…I have been checking your blog every once in a while to see if you add anything else and when you told me you had been blogging, I was excited to see what words of wisdom you had come up with this time. I miss your bible studies because you always say things that I would never think of and put them into a new perspective and they make my wonder. This entry did the same thing…it made me wonder and question what this means for my life.
For the past couple of weeks, I have been reexamining (more like struggling with) my relationship with Christ and what it means to be ‘close’ to Him. And while I have struggled with it and it has been hard; the struggling with our relationship has made me closer to Him in doing so. I have started rereading i am not but i know I AM and there are things that didn’t mean much to me while I was reading it the first time but now they mean so much more.
But anyways, it was good to hear what was bouncing around in that head of yours again. I will continue to look forward to what you have to say next time.
Morgan
Thanks for that….who knew that you could help me gain perspective when I need it most….keep it coming…Gosh knows I need it right now!!!!