Nearness

I read somewhere that there is always a spider within 6 feet of us.  How true that is, I don’t really know.  In my career I’ve been in attics, crawl spaces, and all sorts of dark holes, and usually there were spiders.  Thankfully, I was never bitten.  I disliked the webs hanging down more than I feared coming in contact with a spider.

One of my grandsons, when he was a child, had absolutely no fear of spiders!  We all knew he was going to be bitten, but he never was!  I’ve seen him hold “crab” spiders, and his touch was so gentle they didn’t panic, didn’t fight or struggle, they just sat there!  He had interest in all insects, and could tell you quite a bit about them.  Since he’s now a young adult, his interests have changed, but we’ll never forget that time.

One story comes of that from his other grandpa.  Our grandson had found a couple of praying mantis, and was talking about them.  Pointing, he said “This one is a male; the other one is a female.”

Grandpa asked “How do you know it’s a female?”

“Because it’s the grumpy one!!”

He also had a sense of humor when he was small!

“Nearness” is something that has been hard to achieve during this pandemic.  I think one of the ads on TV is a little “oxymoronic” when it says “AloneTogether.”   Yes, I know what they mean, we’re all in this together, but really, how can you be “alone” “together”??

The Bible talks a lot about being near to God and Him being near to us.  James said “Come near to God and He will come near to you.” (4:8)

In Hebrews we read “19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,21 and since we have a great priest        [ that is, Jesus] over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.   –Romans 5
“Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.”  -Psalm 9:10

One thought on “Nearness”

  1. We were created for “nearness” with God in a personal and spiritual way. If we fail to, or refuse to, experience this nearness with God perhaps that is what defines “alone/together”.

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