It’s official and I can’t quite believe it. In August, I’m flying to Washington to meet up with Christianne and Kirsten. I bought the tickets this morning, but it doesn’t feel real. I’ve been blessed by their words, and now I’ll be blessed by their presence.
By their presence.
In some ways, having blog friends is like knowing God. I don’t see my blog friends, like I don’t see God, and I mostly get to know them through the words they write, like I get to know God through the Bible. At times, I have more intense experiences of these friends, either through a phone conversation or a visit, but mostly I believe that they care because their words prove them the type of people who care and because they sometimes say specifically that they do. I don’t very often get to look into their eyes or see their smiles in real time.
And so I practice the presence of my blog friends, like I do with God. I remember how things are between us. I remember that they care for me and I care for them. And it’s good. Even though I’ve been more absent than present in this online world over recent weeks, it’s good and sweet and…good.
And now this…now plane tickets that whisk me away to experience them in front of me, to smile and watch and learn and love, to experience whatever is there for us to experience. It still feels like a dream…a very, very good dream.
11 Comments
June 9, 2008 at 6:42 pm
HOORAY!
what great news this morning, this was. i’m so thrilled you’re coming to join in on the love fest. i wonder what God is up to? he’s a mysterious one, our God.
i love how you expressed these thoughts about blog friends and how they mirror our relationship with God. i’d never thought about this that way before . . . profound, and worth thinking about more.
i’m so thrilled to be blessed by your presence soon, too. i knew that little snippet we had in california a couple months ago was too short-lived to be complete.
hooray!
June 9, 2008 at 6:48 pm
HOORAY!!!
this totally feels like a dream for me, too. i’m anxious (the good, anticipatory kind of anxiousness) for your visit & look forward to seeing you face to face.
oh my gosh, you’re REALLY coming, aren’t you!!!??!!
i already know that our time together will be way too short, but i am exceedingly thankful that God is choosing to give us this taste, this glimpse of heaven. soon we will see each other face to face.
oh my frickin’ word. ;o)
SQUEALLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!
June 9, 2008 at 8:45 pm
HOORAY!!!
It’s crazy…absolutely crazy. But in the good sort of, ohmygosh, look what I decided to do knowing that God is working, crazy.
Wow.
YEEEHAWWW!
June 10, 2008 at 12:37 am
You guys crack me up! HOOORAYYYing, YEEEEHAAWWWing and SQUEALLLing for you too. This is gonna be good!
June 10, 2008 at 3:09 am
Alright, i only have one word here, jealous. Well, i will add to jealous…….i am so glad you guys are getting this chance. This is awesome. Wish i could be there with ya. Yall pray for us. I can’t wait to see how this will all progress. Loving ya Sarah.
June 10, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Chloe–it’ll be SO good. Thanks for your cheers.
Tammy–oh, I wish you could come, too. And I will pray for you…especially today. Peace to you.
June 10, 2008 at 3:44 pm
I’m jealous! Wish I could fly up there with you guys!
Blogging reminds me of Paul–how he wrote letters to churches he’d visited, to churches he never visited, and told them how much he loved them.
June 10, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Welcome to your dream… may it be as sweet in reality as it is in your mind. May the visit bring blessing and relaxation and may it clear the way for much more visits to come.
I think I have lurked enough here, I should probably post more. You are a talented writer.
June 10, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Hi Carl…thanks for your blessing, you compliment, and for gracing my blog with your presence. Please do come back and share more, as you feel led.
June 16, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Kind of makes me wonder how I can get a round trip ticket to God’s place and back. ; – )
I’m so happy for you. I mean, I know you are partly responsible for making this happen. But I’m happy that you decided to open the door and walk through it.
June 16, 2008 at 4:16 pm
LL–hehe…if you find out how, will you let me know? And…yeah…I was talking to Kirsten yesterday about how it just seemed like God said, “Go for it!” and so I did.