Who Are You Missing?

-
I will admit it.  I am obsessed with the latest podcast trend, "Missing Richard Simmons."  How could I not be?  I spent many hours rocking out to Sweatin' To The Oldies Part 2 when I was sixteen.  Here is what I find fascinating about the podcast though.  Simmons has not been seen in public since February 2014.  Yet, this is suddenly a major news story three years later???  I find the fact that society can all of a sudden become obsessed with someone who has been missing for three entire years more fascinating than the actual search for the individual.

This podcast made me think of people who I had allowed to slip away into the abyss of nonchalance in my own life.  People for whom I cared, but because of busyness or circumstances, they simply faded from my life.  As I began to catalogue these friends, I not only felt a feeling of loss, but also a sense of responsibility to cultivate the relationships I currently have.

Hebrews 10:24-25 says,  "and let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works, 25 not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near."  Fellowship and friendship is something that must be cultivated and nurtured.  It takes effort.  This is a lesson I am continuing to learn.  Yet, we need good friends in order to make it in a tough world.  Raising two young children, I see this more daily. 

So, my question today is, who are you missing?  More importantly, how are you going to find them?



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Remember When...

-
Image
Over the last several days, I have enjoyed nothing more than enjoying watching my children simply be children.  As they grow older, I know these days of childhood are fleeting.  They still enjoy playing in the hose, exploring outdoors, and using their imagination. The live life unhindered by the worries of the day. Not long ago, my parents found an old box of childhood memories.  In there, were drawings, doodles, and even writings I had crafted in my youth.  As I sifted through the pages, part of me longed for the simplicity of days past.  I used to hike down to a brook in the woods and sit for hours, watching the tadpoles swim and listening to the birds sing. I rode my bike in the neighborhood until suppertime, without a care in the world. Jesus calls us to live freely and to live without anxiety as many of us did when we were children. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." In a time when many of us h
Read more

My Bible Study with Mormons

-
Image
Three weeks ago, two Mormon girls knocked on my door and asked if I would like to watch a video about Easter.  I agreed.  After the video, I invited them inside to warm themselves from the cold.  We sat down and talked about life and faith.  At the end of the conversation, I asked if I could pray for them.  Before they left, they asked if they could come back next week and read Scripture with me.  I had told them that I had studied the New Testament in seminary. Last week, we read John 1 together.  We discussed how Jesus came to earth for the world in order to justify us for our sins.  I talked about the notions of truth, grace and freedom.  It was a wonderful time of fellowship.  The girls asked if they could come back the following week and discuss John 2.  I asked them if it would be ok if I made them lunch and they agreed. Today we met for the third week.  This time, we had all studied John 2 beforehand.  We discussed Jesus' wedding at Cana and then the cleansing of th
Read more

The Impact of Love

-
Image
Today, as I glanced through the hashtags of Twitter, I noticed the anger within the posts. Hearts are crying out for change and revolution. Many Christians implore action based on Christ's response to the moneychangers in the Court of the Gentiles at the temple. I read their pleas and heard their pain. I watched the marches on television yet wondered, "how does solidarity promote change?" As I reflected, read, and prayed, I remembered what most motivates change. Looking back on the passage of Jesus at the temple, I am reminded of several things. First Jesus was angry. The vendors had made the Court of the Gentiles an unfair market place. This outer courtyard was the only place where non-Jews could go to worship and commune with the One True God. Yet, Jewish merchants profited by turning it to a place where they converted secular coins into the Jewish currency necessary to pay the Temple tax, making them no better than tax collectors. Also required was
Read more