I know you!

This will be a three part series of my recent trip to Ogden, Utah.

Part Two.  I know you!

One of the things I like best is the shock value of going to a city, where people know you, and they don’t know you are coming and they have not seen you for 5+ years.  THEN, when you walk into them they glance at you, walk by, come to a complete stop, turn around and say… “I KNOW YOU!”  We laugh, we normally hug and spend a few minutes catching up. 

Most of the time I can tell instantly how they are in life, the eyes are the windows to our souls (and they don’t lie.)  I am so excited to see people who had once, not been in a good place in life; to be smiling, living life well and healthy.  And it pains me, perhaps makes me sad to see people whom are not doing well.  They “haunt” me in a way.  When I see a commercial, an event, a product, or hear a story that closely matches theirs it all too often reminds me of a string of other people whom I know or know of.  They do rest in my thoughts, in my prayers and my “wonders” I wonder how they are doing…

They say that each of us handles about 150 connections pretty well, beyond that we start to lose control and touch with those people (that is an average.)  I surely met 1/3 of my quota that weekend!  There were so many people that I re-connected with.  Some whom I had great times with, in the past, but just never kept in close touch.

Regardless if I am at home, traveling or in a place that I call home away from home, there is always a group of people who I know where they are at in life.  They were “broken” when I met them, when I saw them last and on my trip back, yes, they are still there.

I wonder who they surround themselves with that would allow them to remain broken, or in this continues state of need for… need for health, need for love, need for self preservation, need for a hug, need for tough love, need to stop addictions, need for…  A need for someone to say I love you and I would like you to think about changing your life, NOW!  

A Buddhist saying is “As the rain falls on the just and unjust alike, let your heart be untroubled by judgments and let your kindness rain down on all.”  Of course according to the Bible we are to love our neighbors as we do ourselves.  Both lessons of life are very difficult to live sometimes, are they not?  Let my heart be untroubled by judgments?  That is a tough one, especially when you know that person or that person is hurting so badly.  And love someone else as much as we love ourselves.  What if this neighbor really angered us or did us wrong or, or, or… 

I believe that in my life, I have had people look at me and see and say “what a mess!”, “so much potential”, “what a loss.”  And I give thanks to all those who stood by me, pushed me, pulled me, and lifted me who saw and thought “he can do it”, “slow down, shut up and listen, learn and watch”, “be still and know…” 

When I see people today whom I have not seen for a long time we both say “I know you”, and it is my hope that we take time to really make that true… do you KNOW me?  Do I KNOW you? 

We can be the change we seek in this world, and in ourselves.  One day.  One journey.  One person.  One “I know you” at a time.

Royal D. Bush serves as Interfaith Chaplain.  He has studied at Andersonville Theological Seminary, and the International Institute of Faith Based Counseling.  He also holds a Bachelor Degree in business administration. He is available for premarital coaching, couples coaching, life coaching, and pastoral care in the Nebraska and Iowa area.

Inclusive Life offers both nondenominational and nonreligious care-serving all, without exception!  Inclusive Life offers Wedding Ministers, Premarital Coaching, Couples Coaching, Funeral Ministers, End of Life Planning, and Pastoral Care. To reach Chaplain Royal or Chaplain Beth please email info@inclusivelife.org OR phone 402-575-7006. Omaha Weddings, Omaha Counseling, Omaha Funerals