The presence of others

Adriaan left before 5am this morning to catch a flight to Adelaide for work. He won't be home until late Friday night. So it is a good solid 4 days I am alone with the boys. Thankfully we are all feeling much better than last week, although still not 100%.

It is times like these that I am extra thankful for having family close by and willing to let me hang with them for a good portion of this week. When Adriaan has been away in the past, mum has stayed with us. But this week I will probably spend two nights at her house. Having someone else around to help with the kids is wonderful. Mornings and evenings x4 on my own with two young boys is not my idea of fun!

Some people like solitude and don't mind their own company. Adriaan is one of those people. I am not. I just like company. We don't have to be talking, but someone just to hang with. Someone to help fill the void. Mere presence is enough. Isn't it interesting the way that we are wired; there is a deep desire in most of us to find the 'one' person to share the rest of your life with. When we travel, see a movie, watch a sunset, we want to share it with someone else; a spouse, a friend, a sister. 'I wished you could have seen it with me.' Something significant is gained when an experienced is shared. Perhaps part of it is the building of memories and stories with others. If you do it alone, retelling the story in years to come is no where near as much fun.

I suspect a big part of it is a reflection of how we were created. God in himself is in relationship. He exists not as one but three. When he works in the world he works as Father, Son and Spirit. God is relationship.

If (God was) simply One God and only One Person, then you would find yourself in this Creation without something wonderful, without something essental even. And (God) would be utterly other than (he is)... All love and relationship is possible for you only because it already exists within (God). Love is not the limitation; love is the flying.

-William P. Young, The Shack, p.101.

So when we yearn to be with others

we could remember that this is something to be deeply thankful for. Our yearning images the One who yearns to be restored to all his creation. And how wonderful to know that when we begin a journey with the maker of all, he welcomes us into his awesome presence. In grace and wisdom he gives us his Spirit to walk and journey with us.

His presence with us. Immanuel.