It may just be me, but have you ever had someone come up to you and just talk and talk; they know your name, but you are clueless about who they are? When I am in that situation, my mind starts racing, trying to figure out who they are! Especially when they keep using my name, “Hi, Wendy!” or introducing me to their friend, “Marie, this is my friend, Wendy!”

I don’t want to embarrass them or myself, so my mind (sometimes my worst enemy lol) starts acting like this:

Me thinking: Uh, oh, I have my own friend, and I have to do an intro next! Then, my crazy mind will do all kinds of stupid stuff trying to remember. Then I start asking questions.

Me: Hey, you! How have you been? How is your husband/wife? Your kids? Your job? Come on, buddy, just give me anything to click something in my brain to register WHO you are!

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

Them: Oh, Wendy (there’s my name again), you know I never got married or had kids!

Me: laughing but actually thinking: Oh, shoot, now what?

Me: You still at that job at…oh, where did you work, my mind went blank (seriously, it really did blank out!)?

Them: Remember when I quit that job at the hardware store and got a new one. You remember, I told you!

Me thinking: Ok, a hardware store. I only know 3 hardware stores: Oh, you are still in Oceana, then?

Them: Oceana!? (Laughing) You’re funny, you know I worked in Beckley!

Usually, by then, I can remember who they are.

On the occasions it works, this relief comes with the connection of who they are. But, when it doesn’t…what do you do? Well, I will still try to get them to say something for me to connect them to me in whatever capacity that may be!

If it is my turn to introduce someone with me, I may say something like:

Me: Hey, George, I will let this one introduce themselves because I cannot do their introduction any justice as awesome as they are!” or “Hey, George, this is my friend,” and just leave it there. If that doesn’t work, then I try to cut off the conversation quickly so I will not have to say their name!

I KNOW I cannot be the only one that this happens to, at least occasionally. I may be more intense about it, and it happens more often, but I feel like I am not alone!

It is human nature to want to connect. It is part of our DNA. Even the biggest introverts that I know will have a small circle of friends, even if it is just 1 or 2. We are made to need each other. We are made to connect with others. It is just how God decided it should be.

God made us for connection to each other. Even God needed connection, so He made Adam (He wanted a family) and He walked and talked with Adam. He had a relationship with Adam.

Genesis 1: 7

then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

Then God gave Adam a companion and a partner, Eve.

Genesis 1:21-22

So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made^h into a woman and brought her to the man. 

SO MY CHURCH (BRAT) STORY begins: Welcome to a small part of the ridiculous way I live my life!

I love to take a day with my nieces and nephews to go school shopping for school supplies, and if needed, clothes, which means a trip to the mall. It is just our thing. I take a day for each of them separately just so we can be with each other and have fun. A lot of times, my mom will go with us.

This particular day, I was out with my mom and my nephew, Jason (for those invested in my stories, this is Caleb’s older brother! lol). Many of you know Jason. He is a musician, a filmmaker/producer, and a graphic designer- a super talented guy.

We would usually get up between 4am-5am and leave my house. We would go to IHOP to eat, shop, eat lunch, shop, get something sweet or salty (the pretzels in the mall – yum!) and shop, and finally, about 12 hours later, we would go home and look at the “spoils of the day!”

As he got older, he was more interested in going into a music store than Staples! We would get notebooks, pencils, binders and then he would want to go to the mall to “just look around“. I always took him, knowing he really wanted to go to the music store. He would go home with things, like a mandolin, a banjo – something that was not on the school list!

One particular day, we were worn out. We had just spent about 12 hours running around, shopping, and eating. We came out of the music store, laughing and talking. Then I hear:

Person: Wendy Smith! As I live and breathe, it is you!

I turned around and saw this giant “Teddy Bear” of a man running to me. You all that have seen me, know I am not a small delicate woman! I am a big-boned, not light on my feet, nothing dainty about me kind of woman! All of a sudden, he gets to me and picks me up and swings me around, sets me down, and says, “I have missed you!”

Him (Teddy Bear): Where have you been, girl! I haven’t talked to you in forever!

Me thinking: Uh oh, who is this person? Surely I would remember him; he is a burly, big guy with a fun attitude! How could I forget him!

Him (Teddy Bear): Aren’t you going to introduce me to your gang here?

Me still thinking, Uh oh, who is he?: Sure, this is my mom and my nephew, we are out school shopping!

Him (Teddy Bear): Hey guys. Me and Wendy have been best friends for years now. I just love her. She is so funny and lots of fun to work with.

Me thinking: WHAT! I am best friends with someone I cannot even remember who they are.

I stopped being in panic mode, and I started to pay attention to him talking. I recognized his voice, but not him. How can that be? He continued to talk about changing jobs, kids changing schools, him being a coach…etc… I was baffled! I just shook my head in agreement and smiled. Who in the world is this guy!

The conversation ended, and I got another huge bear hug, then we all went our separate ways. I am still in my own thoughts of what just happened. We get to the car:

Mom: Who was that, Wen?

Me: I have no clue

Jason: Really, Wendy, how many times do you get picked up and hugged by someone you don’t know?

Me: This is a first for me. Gosh, who was that?

How could I recognize a voice, but not the face or a name?

We all went to our respective homes. I was still puzzled. I thought and thought. Nothing! I went to bed and then at about 2am it hit me!!!!!! It was Fred (name changed to protect the not so innocent!)

At the time, I worked in a law office. I had to work with a lot of other attorneys’ and judges’ offices. Setting hearings, finalizing the orders, setting child pick-up times, places and drop-offs points…etc. Fred and I had spent hours on the phone. That is why his voice was so familiar!

I recognized the voice because I had only talked to Fred on the phone. I had never met him in person. He knew me from being around the judges’ offices, and he knew my voice. You cannot miss my voice! Very distinctive and unless I am watching my volume, it can be very loud!

He knew me and was very comfortable being around me; even picking me up and swinging me around and sharing bits and pieces of his life with me.

I didn’t know him, to see him and recognize him, I only knew his voice. I wasn’t comfortable enough to share my life with him because I wasn’t sure how I knew him. I just knew I did someway, I knew he had been a part of my life, otherwise how would he know things about me.

The next time we talked on the phone, I asked him how his son’s football team was and if his girl was still cheering! I decided to keep up with him and what is going on, just in case we run into each other again!!!

WHAT’S ON MY MIND?  GLAD YOU ASKED!

As I recalled this story, it reminded me that some might not be familiar enough with God to have a relationship with Him. They may go to church, be a pastor or a deacon, serve in ministry, sing on the worship team, serve on serving teams, and yet, when He calls their name, they have NO clue Who He is. They are not sure how they know Him, but He seems familiar to them. They just cannot put their finger on HOW they know Him.

To make this more personal, let me say it like this:

If you do not have a relationship with Him, you will be uncomfortable – like I was with Fred. You will be wondering, “Why is He talking to me?” “How do I know Him?” You will begin to feel embarrassed because you have nothing to say because you do not know Him.

How does God pick you up and give you a “bear hug” like Fred did me?

It could be a small gesture from someone that shows His love. Maybe you are sick and someone you least expect, brings you food. Maybe you are short on money and need a bill paid and someone hands you the money to pay it. Maybe you are feeling down or depressed and God sends someone to bring some laughter and love in your life. Maybe someone just decided to check on you out of the blue, and that makes you feel less invisible to the world. Maybe it is as simple as a stranger smiling at you as you pass on the street.

You may have had a relationship in the past and just forgotten how your life was while you were with Him versus you living your life on your own terms. He is calling to you! He wants to interact with you again. He wants you part of His world and He invites you back in!

God loves us all. We may be in different places in our walk with Him. He is always calling us higher, calling us by name to run to Him. He sees us where we are. He will meet us where we are. He will love on us where we are. But, He loves us too much to leave us where we are. We have to figure it out, together, with Him. We have to go back when we were on speaking terms and reignite that relationship with Him.

We can all get distracted, we can all get cold in our walk with Him. Sometimes you are just doing life and do not realize that you have walked another direction…away from Him. You finally get a good job, new home and/or vehicle, new baby, new town, new school… you just get satisfied with life and forget this is all temporary. You, in those moments, forget He is eternal and He created us to be. This life is just a “trial run” for eternity.

Good news – HE IS THERE! He wants His kids to talk to Him. He is your Father and He wants what is best for you. But you have to turn to Him and receive it!

Turn your eyes on Jesus! He is there!

As we get ready to pray, play this song and worship. Get in a place by yourself and let nothing distract you. This is your time alone with Him. LOOK to Him. Turn your eyes upon Jesus!

PRAY THIS WITH ME TODAY (in your own words)

Jesus,

I am so thankful for Your love. I am thankful that You never give up on me. I am thankful that You recognize me when I do not recognize You. I am thankful You call me back to You when I go my own way.

God I look to You and only You. I see You and I recognize You. You are Holy. You are Worthy. You are Everything I will ever need. I turn back to You, Father. I feel your big “Teddy Bear” arms embrace me. You lift me up and You swing me around in delight because I am Your child. I want to know You!

Forgive me for turning away. Forgive me for not knowing who You are. Forgive me and meet me where I am today, right now, as I am kneeling before you as humbly as I know how.

You are Lord of my life. I will know You when I see you, I will listen when I hear Your voice! I love you and I want to walk with You daily. And just like with Adam and Eve, I want to walk with you in the cool of the day to just to talk!

Amen