Unfriended?

This is my last “Early Voting” day at the polls. Now onto the big finale on Tuesday. If you haven’t already – please vote before it’s too late. It is a right we should never avoid.

Do you need a friend to take you to the polls? Please call someone to take you or if you don’t want or can’t get out of your car, just drive up to the closest polling location and ask for someone to “curbside” vote you. Election clerks will be happy to bring the voting machine out to you. There will be a sign out front that gives you the phone number to call.

Maybe you can’t think of a friend to take you or have been unfriended -– then be a friend to yourself. Back in the day, when we unfriended someone, we walked away, erased their name off our notebook or wrote a “Dear John” letter. Here we are – decades later and we can unfriend someone with the tap of a button. I don’t “unfriend” but rather “unfollow”, usually because of their language, their rants, their lack of self-control. I still want them to follow me – hopefully, so they’ll catch some Light if they pass by my blog.

Our lives are about relationships — with Jesus and with people. Period. Good thing I’m not a god who carries a big stick. I’d be whack-a-moleying mean, hateful and ornery folks all over the place. If some of them were my friends, I would unfriend them without a second thought.

Then comes along the full-volume, yet gentle voice of God, with His personal guarantee, “I will NEVER unfriend them.” Argh! But, please, God! Then God’s gentle tap on my shoulder reels me back into what His grace is all about. Our God would die before He would unfriend anyone. Fact is: our God did die rather than unfriend us. “Greater love has no one than this: than to lay down one’s life for His friends.” (John 15:13)

Jesus didn’t leave, unlike, or unfriend a single one of his twelve closest friends. He’s not about to start with you and me. Instead, He keeps on keeping the promise He first made that He would never leave or forsake His people. He knows all about us and still loves us.

This is the God who has pursued you and me since before time and Who never ever considers us a waste of time. This is a God who died on a cross to reach our hearts and souls to rescue us. We are loved – in spite of, because of, and instead of, but do we believe it? Do we believe ours is His Love Story and in His Love Story – the Lover never leaves us?

My beloved friends, please let Him love you and wrap you in His grace and mercy. Just say “yes” – ACCEPT His “friend” request. He will take away all your sins, failings, fears and give you His own life – life to the full. “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) You are loved by God AND me!