Delight in people
What was the last thing you did that you didn’t want to end?
Not just something that entertained you for a little while, but something that stayed with you afterward. Something that became a memory. Something you would gladly do again.
We have no shortage of things that keep us occupied for a few moments. But those moments rarely become the stories we tell years later. The moments we hold onto, the ones we hope to recreate, almost always have something more to them.
I’ve spent an odd amount of time reflecting on that this summer. My household has had the privilege of celebrating not one but two fiftieth wedding anniversaries. Malie’s parents and mine both got married in June of 1976. Fifty is a significant milestone, and we were grateful to celebrate with both families.
On the trips home from each celebration, we found ourselves talking about what we enjoyed most. What was the most fun?
The answer surprised us by being exactly the same both times.
It wasn’t the destination. It wasn’t the food. It wasn’t even the activities. It was the people.
Whether it was playing chess in the lodge, watching grizzly bears (from a safe distance), hitting wiffle balls over the house (to Grandma’s chagrin), or relaxing around a campfire, the joy always came from being together.
Moments like those remind me why I answer a certain question the way I do. Every so often someone asks me what God is like. My answer is usually less about definitions than experience: if you want to catch a glimpse of God, spend time with people.
Of course, no one person perfectly represents God. We all carry both beauty and brokenness. But every person is beloved by God, and every person can teach us something about the One in whose image they were made.
That is part of the joy of celebrating our nation’s independence, I think. We live in a remarkably diverse country, filled with people from different backgrounds, experiences, personalities, and perspectives. Some are easy to love. Some challenge us. Every person is first a reminder of the astonishing breadth of God’s love. We also encounter humanity’s brokenness — including our own. Somehow, God continues to work through people anyway.
This love is without end, without limits, and without qualification. All belong. All are welcome.
As you enjoy your celebrations this holiday weekend — as you make memories, laugh with family, reconnect with old friends, or meet someone new — take a moment to give thanks to God for the beautiful diversity with which we were all created. The world would be much less beautiful if we were all the same. Notice the remarkable mosaic of humanity around you, and give thanks for a God who delights in creating a world so wonderfully varied. What a gift it is that we get to share it with one another.
