...other meditations

long distance

do you have long-distanced loved ones? do you wish they could be near and not so far away? that's a portion of what i wanted to share this month. after getting home from a visit to tennessee with family, i realized a few simple, yet significant, things.

having loved ones in far away locations is beneficial. like making those special trips to visit. the welcome mat is rolled out for you. you get reacquainted with the people you love and admire. but, you're not only just blessed with the opportunity to see your loved ones. you also receive the gift of experiencing new foods and culture. not to forget those new images of God's earth.

another benefit to having long-distanced loved ones is the time you are able to spend with them. that time is so precious and it slips away very fast. even though the duration of the visit is temporary, the memories can feed you for a lifetime. each moment is forever etched in your mind. you store up pages upon pages of fond remembrances.

okay, so you're thinking, 'when does she get to the disadvantages?' here are a few things that usually do not happen between you and your long-distanced loved ones: late-night interruptions at the door, borrowing of household items, lending out cash or the car, and child, house or pet sitting.

i'm sure everyone can think of some additional ones themselves. still, we miss our loved ones terribly and wish they could be near. it is a comfort knowing that when you look upon the heavens, your loved one, though thousands of miles away, will gaze upon the very same stars, sun and moon. unfortunately, that may not be enough. this is where contact comes in. it's that hard work that goes into keeping the relationship alive and intact. with technology at its peak, keeping in contact is just seconds away. it's very difficult, in this day and age, to lose touch.

there is, however, One we continuously lose contact with. He is someone Who we are often distanced from. and it's not because He moved away. no. we lose touch because we moved. Who am i speaking of? i'm speaking of God. and like those stars in the sky, evident from every corner of the earth, His evidence is seen by all…everyday. you just need to open your eyes and your heart. He's not a fixture in the building or temple where you worship. He's not in a particular rock or tree, nor is He in any one specific geographical or astronomical location. quite simply: He is.

so do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. isaiah 41:10

He wants to rekindle the relationship with you. He wants to help keep it alive and intact. He desires to come in, not for a visit, but to stay. you need only contact Him; He is just a prayer away. with God, the best distance is no distance.

with an open heart,

tamara