on being happy. and forever.

I used to think when I was younger that one day I would be engaged and get married. I didn't think much beyond that. (i.e. dress, flowers, location, food, music, etc.?) I did think about who my husband would be, and sometimes, in my more enlightened moments, would send up a little prayer for him to the Clouds asking Jesus to keep him safe, and not kiss too many other girls, and other important things like that. Now that I am engaged, I still think about my future husband, except now he is very real, and very much a human, and all those other things that another being should be.
There have been so many times where I find myself in flustered frustration, wishing that this God that I follow and love and try to emulate was present in flesh and bone. If only I could see Him or hug Him or touch the edge of His robe!
And I am reminded that a wise man once said, "I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you bailed me out." And the righteous replied, " When did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?" And the King answered them, "This is truth: whatever you have done to the least of these, you have done to me."
I am finding that the least of these aren't necessarily the "least." They could be the most, or the smartest, or have really nice things, or just a shit ton of money. And that bothers me, why, again? Maybe my leasts aren't your leasts, or maybe they are, but here is a truth: Jesus is here in flesh and bone and he has been ever since he went back up to the Clouds to hang out with his Father. And so I need to be reminded. In not complaining when Brian wants to listen to sports on the radio, or not freaking out when my mother calls and wants to talk about the "wedding plans." Hey! These are little things! And in the grand scheme of things, they are probably even that much littler. But they are a constant reminder that whatever I do to others, I do to that Being I claim to follow and love. If followers of the way treated others as though they were meeting with Jesus, I'm pretty sure there would be a lot of others followers just itching to join in on the journey. Maybe a lot less cynicism about this particular faith, in general.
Oh, just something to think about.