When we see Jesus

I recently heard a song on a Christian radio station about what people are going to do when they see Jesus. Some will shout Hallelujah while others will dance before the Lord. Some will fall to their knees and some will cry tears of joy. I wondered which of these people would I react like? As I thought about it, I came to the realization that I would not be anyone of these people. I am not a shouter at least not anymore and anyone who has seen me dance would ask that I kindly spare them the awful spectacle. I know we will get a new glorious body, but it will take some growing into for me. I have had these creaky knees so long that falling on them is at least going to take a decade to get use to. Well, I might well cry tears of happiness, but I am not a crier at least not away from my immediate family and a very few close friends.

That leads me to a bigger question, how do I define my relationship with the Lord, or maybe a more important question how does the Lord define his relationship with me? How do I want the Lord to define his relationship with me? St John spells it out for us in his gospel. Jesus is talking to his disciples in the 15th chapter, earlier He tells them to remain in him, and without Jesus we are powerless. He gives the disciples a command "Love one another as I have loved you" (John 15:12) Easy to say but tough to do when you consider what Jesus was about to do (and Jesus knew he was about to do it).

With the tough command however come the keys to the kingdom. Jesus graduates the disciples, they are no longer servants, he calls the friends-later we become sons after he is glorified.

I have been blessed in my life to have many great friends starting with my wife, a guy I have known since 7th grade, my siblings, my college housemates & friends, friends and fellow singers at my parish, guys from D & D, I am humbled by their friendship. Jesus is the friend that is always there for me 24/7/365. No matter where I am, how I am feeling, He is there. His messages are always life giving. He has given me eternal life.

So getting back to the question, what will I do when I finally meet the Lord? I will walk right up to the throne, shake his hand, and give him a hug. For those who feel this might be a little presumptuous I can only say, for what ever reason that I don’t understand, He gave his life for me. He thought enough of me to give his life for me (think about that next time you are really down on yourself-it might give you a boost). So for me, I am walking up to the throne extending my hand and giving the Lord a hug. After all, it's how you would greet a friend. I don’t have any fear of what the Lord might say-you see, I know my friend.

We will speak again my internet friend, the Lord willing,

Big D (and a shrinking Big D)