Conversations

Anyone who has known me for, oh, 12 minutes knows that I have a treasure friend whose name is Michelle.  She has been my best friend for 20 something years.  On Saturday night I had the pleasure of going out to dinner with her to celebrate her birthday which has been our tradition for quite a few years now.  We look forward to one of our favorite restaurants complete with wine, an appetizer, dinner, dessert and a hot cup of coffee to top it all off.  I have to say though, that as much as I LOVE, and I do mean LOVE the good food, what I look forward to the most is the company and conversation with my beloved friend.  We became friends in our early twenties, so, as you can imagine, over the years our conversations have grown and evolved just as we have.  I can't tell you how many times we have been talking and laughed until we cried.  I can't tell you how many times we have shared our souls and cried until there were no more tears to fall.  She walked me through the heart wrenching loss of my father and I walked her through the heart wrenching loss of her mother.  I was witness to her vows to her husband and she was witness to the vows I made to my husband.  We have supported each other through every hardship and trial and celebrated with each other over every success.  I trust her and love her and as a result sharing my deepest thoughts is effortless.  She loves me enough to tell me when I'm wrong, she loves me enough to tell me things that will sting.  I can hear it because "Wounds from a friend can be trusted"  (Proverbs 27:6)  Sharing your thoughts and feelings and longings with someone is good for your soul.  Knowing that you have been heard and understood by someone you love is an amazing feeling.  After one of our special conversations I feel lifted up, and not just for the rest of the day...many times it lasts for days.  I feel close to her, I feel thankful for her, and though I never think it's possible...I actually love her even more!


Every week our new amazing senior Pastor Nick sends out an e-mail letting the congregation know what he plans to speak on the following Sunday.  A few weeks ago he preached a message on why we pray.  For some reason the other day I started to think about that some more.  I got thinking about how much I love my meaningful conversations with Michelle, which led me to think that that is probably exactly the feeling God gets when we make the time to have "meaningful conversations" with Him.  I love Michelle, and if we go for a while without talking I really miss it.  I need it and want it.  God loves us and longs for us to open our hearts and souls to him.  He wants us to long for him the way he longs for us.  He wants our heart and our devotion.  He wants to know what we are feeling, what we are struggling with and he wants us to tell him what He can do to help us.  THAT is why we pray.  


My husband is wonderful in a host of ways...but those deep meaningful conversations aren't always easy for him to engage in.  He's not the talker that I am. (Thank GOD...there isn't room for two of me in the house)  Occasionally I have to go to him and tell him that I need to connect with him because I miss those conversations that have such meaning and result in closeness and true intimacy.  I can't help but wonder if that is what God is feeling when I neglect to take the time to really connect with Him too.  


Why do we pray?  We are instructed to, obviously that is one reason....but I'm seeing in a whole new light that we pray to keep our hearts open to share ourselves with the One who above all treasures relationship with the children He loves.  The closer we are to God the more we trust him and the easier it is to bear our souls to Him, and the more we will long for those conversations.