Today I had the great joy of reconnecting with an old friend. We shared what we had been up to, everything from the big highlights and current challenges to the small joys found in the midst of walking the journey with God.
It was a beautiful grace and consolation in the midst of my day, but what has stayed with me the most from that conversation was not what we said, but how. For in the midst of our sharing, I felt us quickly slip into the easy give and take and playful banter that has always been the nature of our friendship.
Although we had not talked in a long time, it was as if no time had passed at all. It was as if we had just spoken yesterday and were picking up the conversation from the day before.
The best word I have to describe it is that it felt like home.
A real home where all is comfortable and real and relaxed. Where you don’t have to explain things because everyone knows all the stories and “in-jokes.” Where you can simply be yourself.
The real beauty of home is that when we are there, we know who we are. We are a mom, dad, son, daughter, brother, sister, cousin, nephew, niece, uncle, aunt or grandparent. We know our relationship with one another.
In other words, we know our place in the story.
For those who have had that blessing in your life, you know exactly what I am talking about. But even if you haven’t experienced that grace, all of us intuitively sense when we have found it.
Why? Because we were created for it. We were created to be our real, authentic selves with others where there is no pretense, no ego, no agendas. We just are.
Another word for this is heaven. Because that is what heaven will be. It will be where we reconnect with those we love–family, friends, brothers and sisters–and we get to spend eternity sharing all the best things, all the best times and all the best experiences over the best meal ever.
And that is everyone’s place in the story. We are all destined to sit at the great banquet, the Wedding Feast of the Lamb, where we will have that experience of home for all eternity. We just need to say yes to the invitation.
Today, my conversation with my friend reminded me of the times we have already shared, and gave me hope of more times to come.
But even more important, it reminded me of what we are all really created for–heaven. Going to be the Best. Party. Ever.
Can’t wait.
