Previous Connection

I recently reconnected briefly with people that I hadn’t seen in over twenty-five years. It was a bit sobering to realize how old they are as well as how old I am now. Life has a way of moving on. There are others that I’ve been closely connected with over that same period and I think the aging process seems slower. I do enjoy reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. I believe God wired us for relationships.

There was an event that happened in Jesus’ ministry that I would love to have more information on. There were three eyewitnesses, but not a lot of detail. Check this out…

² Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed, ³ and his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them. ⁴ Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus. (Mark 9:2-4 NLT)

That would have been really cool to witness. Here are two legendary leaders of Israel’s past connecting with the Messiah – the One and Only Son of God.  I’ve been trying to imagine the conversation. It wasn’t their first meeting. I feel like that this meeting was for Jesus to feel “divine encouragement” from the eternal realm. I think the meeting was also for the followers of Jesus. The historical connection between Israel of the Old Testament and Israel of the New Testament was unmistakable.  Jesus came to earth with a message that was different than Israel was expecting although they had been looking for Him. The people of God were so busy doing traditional worship, that they were about to miss what God had planned all along. I think it’s a bit easy to get stuck in a routine and miss the point of it.  I think this event changed Peter, James, and John for the rest of their lives.

I can get so busy doing things for the Lord that I quit taking in my time with Him and noticing His work in my life.

I can get so busy using people and miss connecting with them on a deeper level.

I believe that I was created to connect with the Lord.

I believe that I was created to connect with others.

It is sometimes easier to reconnect with someone than to connect with someone new. Then at other times, the opposite of that is true. All the connections I make have “relational baggage” with them and so do I. There’s a lot of “relationship ground” that has already been covered by previous relationships.

There are people that I can be separated from for months or even years and I can pick back up where we left off in deep, meaningful relationship.  The relationships that are most critical to me today are the people I see most often. We still have a lot of learning and growing to do in understanding each other and the separate journey’s that brought us here.

I might ask the question – What is the Lord trying to teach me as I get to know you?

Pressing On!

Dwayne