On long-distance

 
If you stick around me long enough, you'll hear me talk about being in a personal relationship with God.  If God is a relational God, then it follows that we learn about him through the relationships we have with people - from parents, siblings, friends, bosses, lovers, etc.  For some reason, it just never occurred to me that these relationships also teach me about how to relate with and love Jesus -- until I started dating.

I've been in a long-distance relationship for nearly a year now, and the longer I'm in it, the more I realize...this is not so different from my relationship with Jesus.  They're both very far away, and I know they're coming back...but I just don't know when.

Because Jayson and I don't get to see each other very often (~ once every few months), a large portion of our relationship has been spent waiting, either wondering about when or eagerly anticipating the next time we'll be together in person.  Most days, the distance is just a fact of life and I don't really dwell on it, but other days, the weight of 3000 miles overwhelms my heart with an incredible yearning for his presence.

Honestly, the waiting just plain stinks sometimes.  But I have to say, it gives an incredible contrast to the amazing joy of seeing one another for the first time in months, with faces lit up, grinning like crazy, internally shrieking with excitement and only the fear of tripping over myself (and/or my luggage) holding me back from running into his arms at the airport.  This, is but a tiny glimpse -- a mere shadow -- of how incredibly awesome it will be to finally see Jesus, the lover of my soul, face to face.

Oh Lord, please help me to live with this kind of ansty, impatient, squirming anticipation for your return.  Let me live knowing that the present ickiness is only temporary, with a heart full of faith, hope, and confidence that there will be a day when You will come back and make everything ok.

I miss you.  Come back soon.