It’s a cold rainy day, and my father-in-law is visiting from Dallas. I pour a cup of coffee and sit in my familiar chair, ready to trudge through some emails and get my day started. He sits across from me. He looks like Dave Brubeck in his glasses. He still has his breathe right strip on and a 1995 American Royale BBQ sweatshirt he proudly wears, reminding me of his third place finish there. He starts talking about a dream he had about one of his favorite books, The Little Prince. He tells me about the author Antoine de Saint-Exupery, who was a French pilot during World War II, and eventually became a poet and author. He encouraged me to read the story. I did.
One of the messages I picked up on is the relationship the little prince has with a rose. This rose represents a friendship. Once you have established ties to another you become responsible for that person forever. The prince spends his time caring for his rose. In doing so, he realizes the unique bond that is created with someone when you invest your time with them.
“But my rose, all on her own, is more important than all of you together, since she's the one I've watered. Since she's the one I put under glass, since she's the one I sheltered behind the screen. Since she's the one I listened to when she complained, or when she boasted, or even sometimes when she said nothing at all. Since she's my rose.”
“People where you live," the little prince said, "grow five thousand roses in one garden... yet they don't find what they're looking for...And yet what they're looking for could be found in a single rose, or a little water…" And the little prince added, "But eyes are blind. You have to look with the heart.”
“Grown-ups love figures... When you tell them you've made a new friend they never ask you any questions about essential matters. They never say to you "What does his voice sound like? What games does he love best? Does he collect butterflies? " Instead they demand "How old is he? How much does he weigh? How much money does his father make? " Only from these figures do they think they have learned anything about him.”As I travel down the path on my faith journey, I start to appreciate things that I once took for granted. The relationships I have with others is a gift from God. The quality, intimacy, and joy in those relationships, is in direct correlation to the time I spend with them. Sharing my experiences, my hopes and fears, and just enjoying the passing of time. How long have I been busying myself growing a large garden yet not find what I’m looking for? How blind do my own eyes continue to be to what truly matters?
The most important relationship I have is with Jesus. I know even writing that sentence, that my actions don’t show that. Some people in my life, I touch base with once a year. I give them an update of what is going on, and offer a highlight reel of notable events. Others are part of my life. They are experiencing it daily with me. There is no need for me to bring them up to speed, because they are shoulder to shoulder with me. Which one is Jesus for you? I pray that each of us invest our time and energy in worthy causes - in people rather than things, and recognize the source of love that bonds each of our closest relationships together.
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