People matter.

All people.

You and you and you.

No matter how old I get

I’m still fascinated with people.

Again and again people share with me their struggles in relationships.

Lonely voices struggling to believe that there’s a God who cares.

Sure, people might be there in a crisis

but I want a friend who will share life with me.

Yes, that’s what they say

and my heart understands.

A friend for all kinds of weather.

A friend who is committed to being there.

But in our fast paced world of technology

deep relationships are harder to form.

They take time

and most of all, heart.

There are limits to how many close friends one can have.

but the voices of the lonely cause me to wonder.

Are we missing out on one of the greatest opportunities on earth?

Growing to know someone

and being there for them for the length of days.

Fair weather friends, we used to call them.

The ones who would be there while things were going well

but seemed to disappear when you really needed them.

I believe that people need more than that. You need more than that.

But,

then again,

it takes commitment.

A ‘wanting to’ by both.

Lonely voices,

I hear them every day.

Looking for someone who will care.

How can we speak about a God who cares

when we are never there.

Running in and out

serving,

doing,

working,

but no time to even know our neighbors.

My heart beats with passion as I remember these precious words,

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind

and love your neighbors as yourself.” Luke 10:27

A commitment to grow a friendship

might well be the greatest gift we can give.

Moving in

While others stay outside

Breathing words of reassurance and care.

Slowly building a relationship that will last.

Learning to love.

Yes, that’s really what it’s all about.

Learning to love another.

Out of self-interest and into you.

Teach me, O Lord, how to do that.