Now that the long holiday season (and all of the busyness that goes along with it) is a memory, I gathered up the envelopes from the Christmas and New Year’s cards that we had received, as well as the scraps of paper containing hastily scribbled notes of the soon-to-be address changes, and prepared to update our address book.
Before I made any changes, however, I took an unplanned walk down memory lane as I leafed through each page and scanned the entries. The names listed there told many different stories from the past.
Some were names of people who were only briefly and slightly known from so long ago that I could not bring a matching face forward in my mind. (I can’t help but wonder, do they remember me just as well?)
Others were names of precious friends and family members who make a point to keep in consistent contact as they share both everyday happenings and the big events in their life and the lives of their family members. Visits with these dear ones – whether via paper (i.e. cards and letters), by telephone, over electronic devices or in person – are eagerly anticipated. The merest thought of them immediately brings a smile to my face as well as a strong desire to drop an unexpected card or note in the mail to them to simply say, “I was thinking about you today.”
On the other hand, an ache spreads in my heart at the sight of the names listed of those who see themselves as the center of their universe and have chosen to remain aloof, and refuse to take part in any form of a healthy relationship. Usually, contact is only made when something is needed or when a crisis is occurring in their life. How we long to have these names join the ranks of their smile-producing address book neighbors spoken of above!
As household moves take place, multiple entries are reflected for some of the names; while other address entries have been scratched through repeatedly as each move (or two or three) has taken place and been replaced by the latest contact information. These moves have occurred so frequently that the newest information has had to be carefully squeezed into the margin as near to the surname as possible. These listings alone can take several minutes to reminisce over as each new house, city or state holds precious memories of special times that were created while the entrant lived there.
As new branches are added to the family tree and the children grow up to eventually move away from their familial home to live their own life in their own surroundings, a new listing is created for each of them. Their name, address and telephone number has been lovingly written on a separate line. The newness of this entry looks odd for a while as the new home is established apart from the parent’s address entry.
Then there are those names of individuals who are no longer here. A contented happiness tinged with a little sadness comes to the surface over the all-too-brief opportunity to have known them while we shared in their walk along this life’s path right on to the very end of their journey.
Similarly, a penetrating sadness is fast to be felt – even after many years - over the ones who are now gone without any type of reconciliation having taken place prior to the end of their life, completely ensuring that no hope remains for one to ever take place.
So many moves have taken place over the years as well as many life changes. Without extending the effort, is it any wonder that people have lost touch over time and feel disconnected from people?
God, however, has all of us written in His address book. Regardless of where we live or where we may move to throughout this life, God never loses sight of us.
Psalm 139:2 “You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.”
We may change - our address, our minds, or ourselves - but God never changes.
Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
He calls to each one of us:
Revelation 3:20 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”
Open the door and invite Him into your home. No matter where you are situated either in life or geographically, He’d love to have a heart-to-heart visit with you. He’s waiting for you.
(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)
Before I made any changes, however, I took an unplanned walk down memory lane as I leafed through each page and scanned the entries. The names listed there told many different stories from the past.
Some were names of people who were only briefly and slightly known from so long ago that I could not bring a matching face forward in my mind. (I can’t help but wonder, do they remember me just as well?)
Others were names of precious friends and family members who make a point to keep in consistent contact as they share both everyday happenings and the big events in their life and the lives of their family members. Visits with these dear ones – whether via paper (i.e. cards and letters), by telephone, over electronic devices or in person – are eagerly anticipated. The merest thought of them immediately brings a smile to my face as well as a strong desire to drop an unexpected card or note in the mail to them to simply say, “I was thinking about you today.”
On the other hand, an ache spreads in my heart at the sight of the names listed of those who see themselves as the center of their universe and have chosen to remain aloof, and refuse to take part in any form of a healthy relationship. Usually, contact is only made when something is needed or when a crisis is occurring in their life. How we long to have these names join the ranks of their smile-producing address book neighbors spoken of above!
As household moves take place, multiple entries are reflected for some of the names; while other address entries have been scratched through repeatedly as each move (or two or three) has taken place and been replaced by the latest contact information. These moves have occurred so frequently that the newest information has had to be carefully squeezed into the margin as near to the surname as possible. These listings alone can take several minutes to reminisce over as each new house, city or state holds precious memories of special times that were created while the entrant lived there.
As new branches are added to the family tree and the children grow up to eventually move away from their familial home to live their own life in their own surroundings, a new listing is created for each of them. Their name, address and telephone number has been lovingly written on a separate line. The newness of this entry looks odd for a while as the new home is established apart from the parent’s address entry.
Then there are those names of individuals who are no longer here. A contented happiness tinged with a little sadness comes to the surface over the all-too-brief opportunity to have known them while we shared in their walk along this life’s path right on to the very end of their journey.
Similarly, a penetrating sadness is fast to be felt – even after many years - over the ones who are now gone without any type of reconciliation having taken place prior to the end of their life, completely ensuring that no hope remains for one to ever take place.
So many moves have taken place over the years as well as many life changes. Without extending the effort, is it any wonder that people have lost touch over time and feel disconnected from people?
God, however, has all of us written in His address book. Regardless of where we live or where we may move to throughout this life, God never loses sight of us.
Psalm 139:2 “You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.”
We may change - our address, our minds, or ourselves - but God never changes.
Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
He calls to each one of us:
Revelation 3:20 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”
Open the door and invite Him into your home. No matter where you are situated either in life or geographically, He’d love to have a heart-to-heart visit with you. He’s waiting for you.
(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)
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