John 15:16 You did not choose me, bit I chose you and appointed you that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

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I grew up in the late 1950’s in a little town pushed up against the Pacific Ocean. Occasionally in the summer as the fog began to lift, I would walk the mile or so down to the beach. Across the dunes I would go. As my shoes would fill with sand, I threw stones into the ocean surges. An occasional starfish would wash up and I would throw it back in. I would walk the beach looking for sand dollars and castaway junk thinking I would find something of great value. Sometimes I simply did nothing but stare at the constantly breaking waves. Time seemed to stop and yet pass by quickly.  At the end of my walks was the realization I had to get back home. The urge of return was complicated because of two paths.

One path was a retracing of my steps back to home and probably chores. The other was to go over the dunes, along the school yard and cross a four-lane highway and show up at my fathers’ workplace.  He was a mechanic at a small local shop. “Hi dad, I hiked over to see how you are doing.” With a smile he pulled out a slightly greasy three wheeled stool, sat me down and gave me a soda. “How was the hike?”, he would ask. And I would respond with my usual, “good”.  He acted like he expected me. Not an overly emotional man, but I could tell he was glad I was there. To share a moment of quiet between father and son.

I am expected in another place someday.  And my heavenly father is expecting me. He may not have a greasy stool and a coke, and He may well ask me, “How was your hike?”. There will be a smile on his face because will be glad to see me.

What shall we call Him.  Jesus our expectant and emotional greeter.