Not Seen But Still Here

And Elisha saw it and he cried, My father, my father! The chariot of Israel and its horsemen! And he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 2 Kings 2:12 (Amplified Bible)

Several years ago, I wrote a devotional from the phrase, “And he saw him no more.” I listed individuals from the Bible who at one time lived under the eye and care of significant people in their life such as Joshua with Moses, Elisha with Elijah, David with Jonathan, Timothy with Paul, and so on. I noted when the time had come for each to be removed from their life and for them to continue on in the things they had learned from them. I pondered the things that might have gone through their mind when transition had taken place. The things I wrote were beneficial for me at a time when I was going through such a transition.

This morning I am aware of something I had missed at the time. In each of the examples I gave, the loss of the individual was through death. They were no longer here in the flesh. How the stories would have changed had they been. As a matter of fact, in Bible times, it was not unusual to never see or be in contact with another individual even if alive due to the lack of technology we have available to us. Cell phones, the internet, and transportation make staying connected more plausible today. I have numerous people from my past whom I may never see again in this life, but that does not mean we aren’t able to still communicate in one way or another. That is not the case with those who have died and are unreachable for me. Future communication awaits our reunion in Heaven.

So where does this leave me in relationship to individuals who at one time held significant places in my life but there is now no relationship? They still walk the earth. They still live and breathe. They are still here. If I desire to be in relationship with them, those truths can bring an ache. But if I acknowledge the fact that God has separate plans for us I can then direct my attention toward the plan He has for me. This I am doing with an awareness that the connection once held is gone. But I am also purposefully opening myself up to an area I at one time thought was over and done with. Does it mean the re-establishment of an ended relationship? Absolutely not. It simply means I am ready to allow my life to once again include some influence of a past influential person. It is an option my Bible ancestors never had and one I am taking. Is it the right thing to do at this time in my life? I hope so. Time will tell.

Father, if this is not of You, show me clearly, otherwise I embrace it afresh! Amen.

For Good
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzrGFQysfYU

He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food. Job 36:16