Don't Squander the Wander!

Posing and playing in costumes of old, we snapped pictures for a fictitious newspaper article. Teenaged girls with spiral perms trying to play like we were crusty old barnacles of men, skilled at their craft on the high seas. Two sailors featured in photos with towering oak trees as a backdrop. Makes sense, right? Well, it was close enough.

See, somewhere in the blur of high school life, a project was assigned. Find a partner, pick a historical event. Write an article about it, as if it was a current event. Go back in time. Put yourselves in their shoes for a moment. Experience the experience. Tell the tale. Submerged in an event we didn’t really understand, we created scenes while supposing to be people who were in the midst of the mayhem described in said article.

 It was a fearful fate for those on the Lusitania. It was a comfortable, sunny day in my backyard. Their voices silenced, ours were speaking their story, in true 80’s teen fashion. We, in our best effort, tried to capture the reality of the situation, and honor those who lost their lives.

All in the name of history. All for the sake of a good history grade.

I wish I could tell you all the details we learned about that moment in history. It would be noble if we could say we felt the pain, and understood the gravity of the situation. In reality, I remember the fun of photos, and the folly of youth. Best friends. Partners. Assignment. Grade. Good grade! Yes, I saved the project. Its up in the attic somewhere, testifying to the bond of friendship and the evidence of creative ideas.

To this day, we laugh and gaze on those crazy snapshots, remembering the fun, and not the tragedy.

We got the grade but didn’t experience the loss.

Recently I got to be there for a grand event in this sweet friend’s life. Celebration. New beginnings. Joy! Peace. Love. All the things happiness are made of. So blessed to see, to connect, to understand, to feel all the feels. Snapshots and laughter abounded. Connection and love shown. Heart connection!

See, our bond is far richer than one event or a high school project. Years of life lived in tandem, with gaps that disappear when the phone rings again, connections unhindered by time and distractions. We have cultivated a friendship of trust and depth, where empathy and integrity abound. We understand each other without saying a word, and have time when it is a day for all the words to come out.

You don’t know someone until you know them, and once you know, you know.

There is a tremendous difference in our lives between the posed and the passionate, the snaphot and the experience.

The generic write-up of an observer vastly lacks the depth of the shouts of joy of deeply connected hearts living each moment out loud.

In life, it is far too easy to look at the things of faith, whether church, or events, or music, or beliefs, and approach it as those silly kids did with the project. Sure, we can look back at the selfies and laugh. Remember that time? What was it…oh yeah, camp…or the conference…or the mission trip…been there, done that, got the t-shirt.

Bear with me, but we’ve all had a moment or two where we looked at this thing called faith and said, well, if I put on the right clothes, and take the right pictures, and even write the right words, I’m good. Check the box. Yep! Done. On to the next thing. See you next Sunday for an hour. No longer than an hour, please, I’ve got stuff to do. Or, see you on Easter Sunday, and maybe Christmas if granny says I have to go. Friend, churches are full of people just going through the motions.

Trying to get the grade, without embracing the pain Jesus went through to bring us freedom.

Jesus wants you to know Him with a real love. He understands everything we have ever, or will ever, go through. And, our Savior has provided the path to freedom, through His sacrifice for our sins.

He wants to share His perfect love, and extend His amazing gift, and sit with you in your joy and your pain.

He longs to be the first one you call on when something tragic happens.

He wants to be the name on your lips when you cry out in need.

Jesus is ecstatic when you look to Him and say thank you for the littlest and largest blessings in life.

Beyond an event or an article, He longs to be your best friend.

The One who understands without saying a word, or all the words, whether it has been a minute or a lifetime.

He longs for us to come running, excited to meet with Him and His people.

Jesus is waiting, and ready to welcome you home.