Later today I had a conversation with a friend who recently had the experience of having her tea leaves read. Some of what the lady said was quite amazing - demonstrating a knowledge of my friend that was surprising to say the least. What I found most interesting as I reflected later on this conversation was how energized my friend was that this stranger seemed to really 'know her'. Finally, last night Becca and I had a long talk about relationships...these chats are one of the gifts of her time off this month :-) I was again impressed with her wisdom and insight at her age and stage; what came through loudly was the need to have relationships with people (both men and women) who really seek to know her, and then in that knowing, to love her.
I wrote earlier about being known, and I keep coming back to that theme....I believe it is a core need for us to be known and loved. As I continue on my healing journey, a journey of faith and hope, I am reminded of these verses from scripture and am grateful to be known by God:
1-6 God, investigate my life;
get all the facts firsthand.
I’m an open book to you;
even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking.
You know when I leave and when I get back;
I’m never out of your sight.
You know everything I’m going to say
before I start the first sentence.
I look behind me and you’re there,
then up ahead and you’re there, too--
your reassuring presence, coming and going.
This is too much, too wonderful--
I can’t take it all in!
7-12 Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit?
to be out of your sight?
If I climb to the sky, you’re there!
If I go underground, you’re there!
If I flew on morning’s wings
to the far western horizon,
You’d find me in a minute--
you’re already there waiting!
Then I said to myself, “Oh, he even sees me in the dark!
At night I’m immersed in the light!”
It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to you;
night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to you.
13-16 Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
you formed me in my mother’s womb.
I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!
Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
I worship in adoration—what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
before I’d even lived one day.