On Longing

Got a note from CW the other day titled: Sadness. He began with: "I feel a little empty today..." because a good friend of ours is leaving. He proceeded to reminisce about a conversation we had once upon a time ("when you were like 21 22 yrs old") about a passage of scripture. This passage came to mind again because he was reminded that a. he should not feel guilty about the loss he feels now or the longing for said friend he will feel soon, because b. that's what love is about, it doesn't mean that he doesn't want what is best for her. In the end, basically CW wants to remind me that earnest, intercessory prayer is the appropriate response, even when you feel a bit emptier. Maybe especially so.

CS Lewis wrote in a letter to a friend that he was missing him and was praying for him daily, which, really is "a meeting of the best kind." Leave it to Lewis to put it in the best way possible. All I can do is quote him.

And quote St. Paul:

"I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."

I've been through this business of missing people a lot lately but haven't always responded in prayer. So thanks for the reminder, CW. I love you and miss you and the missus too.