Distant Distance
Soul Snack 9/29 ... Distant Distance
Eyes no longer met, although they were only a glance away. The discomfort of eyes engaged, now undesired. Knowing each other well was now no longer an asset. Sitting closely was no catalyst for closeness. Only a meter of oxygenated space separated them. This air felt thick although it looked invisible.
Distance can still be found in the closest proximity, even amongst lovers.
For 2 millenia the Israelites had held their loving and rescuing God at a distance. In one of the saddest verses in the Bible Jesus laments:
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing." Mt 23:37
They had spurned the attention of Him who loved them most. They had killed His messengers of love. They would kill His son of love too. They had kept their lover at a distance.
Nothing has changed. He loved then and He loves now. There is no distance between the wings of a hen gathering her chicks in. This is His longing for you - to gather you in and remove the distance.
Even if you have killed Him and stoned Him He still longs to be close to you.
He longs for you to long for Him. He wants distance to be distant.