A Few Good Men

The Bible says that David was a man after God's own heart. I wonder what that looked like in real life. What charaterized David's daily life, his routines, his personality? Of others it's been said they were a friend of God. I'm privileged to know a man who fits both those descriptions. And yet, he is likely never to be publicly recognized, much less remembered by historians.

This morning I asked him how he's spending his time now that he is completely retired. His answer? 'With God, he's with me all the time'. I was blown away, not only with the answer, but the expression of relief and contentment on his face as he spoke. As if this were what he'd been waiting for all along. Sure, I talk about being with God in heaven with extreme anticipation to the point that I'm labeled strange. But this man speaks with the same excitement for NOW, here on earth.

I asked him, 'Well, what do you do all day? Do you pray, write, read the Bible?'. What does it look like to be with God all day? He said yes to all of the above and finished with 'He wants to be a part of everything we do'. You'd have to have heard his voice to know he was speaking of his best friend. I began thinking of ways to describe this man's relationship with God. And then I realized I couldn't really. I could perhaps define the relationship or give it characteristics. But the heart of such a deep relationship is just that, it's in the heart, and that cannot be explained. It can only be witnessed with wonder.

I wondered later if he ever felt lonely, or different, in trying to relate the journey of his favorite relationship to those of us Christians who are lagging behind and distracted. It must be frustrating at times.

I am challenged, humbled, hopeful, and reminded of my need when I see this man's life. I want to be a friend of God, a woman after his heart, one who says like Moses did, 'God, show me your face.'