My younger son bought me a new pair of dress shoes. My old pair is twenty years old and my family told me they looked it. Since it was evident I was not going to trade them in, (one becomes attached to old friends) he went on line and found the exact same shoes and got them for me. They look stiff and I am thinking it will take a few wearings to get them to feel like the old pair.
I like old things. Old cars, 57 Chevys, 64 Mustangs are treasures. Old friends are the best. New friends have to be broken in like new shoes. It takes a while to be comfortable enough not to feel like you have to talk. You can tell when someone is really your friend. You can just be together with no need for anything verbal.
It’s like that with Jesus. Jesus told us He is our friend. That means praying isn’t talking but being. You don’t have to be saying something or trying to express your feelings. It’s comfortable just being. Conversation isn’t stiff like new shoes or new friends. Uh huhs, hems, yeps, yeahs, nahs all work just fine with no added explanations. I have a few friends with whom I can spend lots of very quiet time. They are the best. Jesus is the best. He doesn’t need our yakking.
Have you ever met someone who is instantly comfortable? You have known them ten minutes and it feels like ten years. When we are with Jesus face to face will we feel the need to be verbally praising and thanking Him or will He understand profound silence? After all He is an old friend who has known us since before we were born.
Written by Roger Bothwell on July 15, 2015
PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
rogerbothwell.org