To Me, He Was Beautiful and Important

During a recent vacation in Ireland (about which I am currently working on a series of blogs—can’t wait to share all we experienced and our aaah-mazing pictures), we visited the Cliffs of Moher. Marvin and I had just ended our over six-hour hike all across the cliffs and were walking into the exit tunnel when this elderly man caught my eye. I literally stopped in my tracks, mesmerized by the stark contrast between what his visit must have been like as compared to ours.

Marvin, who had walked on ahead of me before realizing that I’d stopped, finally noticed I wasn’t walking beside him anymore and turned to see where I was. I caught a glimpse of his expression in my peripheral vision and could tell he was questioning in his mind what I was doing. Unable to move beyond this man, I watched as he sat alone obviously struggling to figure out how to perform some task on his cell phone.

Alone! At one of the most beautiful places in existence.

Sitting! Probably waiting for his family to come to where he was, I supposed.

Struggling! With what we consider a modern convenience, but his brain was molded at an earlier time in technological history making new approaches to communication difficult.

People by the hundreds walking past him. I, too, eventually walked passed him. But, I did notice and snuck a shot of him. For some strange reason I wanted to include this man in my memories of that spectacular day—even though he made me cry, a little….he made me think, a lot.

To me, he mattered as much as the spectacular view. To me, he was beautiful and important.

He made me think about what it means to always be accepted and to always be included and how that kind of relationship is exactly what I have with the Lord. Yes, I have an amazing husband and a loving and close family. But, even they have the ability to make me feel rejection from time to time (though never intentionally).

There is only one relationship that I can snuggle up to at any moment of any day or night and pour myself out with absolutely NO inhibitions or fear of retribution for being…human. Because, He made me and knows me and wants me—always!! I never get on His nerves and He has no desire to be without me, EVER!!

“God didn’t set us up for an angry rejection but
for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ.
He died for us, a death that triggered life.
Whether we’re awake with the living or
asleep with the dead,
we’re alive with him!
So speak encouraging words to one another.
Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this,
no one left out, no one left behind.”
1 Thessalonians 5:9-11a (MSG)