Monday afternoon, I sent Hope the links to a couple of music videos. I didn’t write much at all, just a couple words. But I knew she would understand. One was a group I like singing a song she knew. One was a group she knew with a musician I like. One was a singer we both like with a version of a line in a song that she likes.
That paragraph shows that in relationship, the parties can know each other well enough to not need lots of explanation. They can share things just for the sake of sharing, not trying to accomplish anything other than what I hope to accomplish with my emails: to let our daughter know that I’m thinking of her.
Yesterday I sent a link to Andrew of an article. I forwarded an email to Nancy. Sometimes I send videos or articles to all three of them. I’m inviting us into a shared experience, to laugh separately at the same story. We aren’t in the same places, but we all have the same last name and share 21 or 25 or more than 30 years of life.
I have been known to write longer messages to one or more of my immediate family. I’ve made lists, identified plans. I’ve been directive. But often I just want to connect.
It makes me think of an image of God from Zephaniah, an Old Testament book not often considered warm and fuzzy. Yet in this prophecy is an image of touching base, of being present, of caring:
The Lord your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.
I listen closely, at times, for these casual links from God.
300 words a day 
Todd Lohenry
Reblogged this on My Perspective and commented:
Another great post from Jon Swanson…
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palgal120
Found you thru Todd up there. To be honest, I’ve been up all night with a heavy load to bear on my mind. And that last thing you said, about listening closely for links to God…wow. You know, I have practiced Christianity and Islam both, and I think religion is just not my thing, but spirituality of some sort is. So, here I sit, with a blinding headache and tired eyes, trying to connect somehow to the Creator–or am I running from Him? Anyway, I’ll figure it out, I guess, but thanks for a really nice post!
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Jon Swanson
and thanks for commenting. I hope by now that the headache has lifted.
You know, I was about to say that I’m so good about religion, but I realized that I am. I am very capable of identifying practices and either religiously doing them or religiously avoiding them. And by themselves, they aren’t terribly fullfilling or effective.
On the other hand, as I think about it, I am pretty good at finding out what Nancy likes, or doesn’t like, and doing what she like and not doing what she doesn’t like. In many ways, that ends up looking the same as if I were involved in religious practice. And yet, because of my relationship with the object of my affection, it doesn’t feel like religion.
I need to explore this more. Thanks for getting me thinking.
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Frank Reed
I get tired at times keeping track of what messages to give to whom until I relax and let God guide me as to what to do.
I wear myself out while God builds me up. Why do I keep going back to me?
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Jon Swanson
Dear Frank. welcome to being human. love, Jon
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Rich Dixon
Remember the first objections to Twitter? I think Jesus would tweet, because when you know someone well it’s not always about teaching or preaching. “I’m thinking of you” is less than twenty characters, but it’s important. Especially from God.
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Jon Swanson
well said, Rich.
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Joanna Paterson (@joannapaterson)
That is beautiful. I wonder what more we would notice if we tuned into those simple, soft, sweet signs of subtle affection? Not the clap of thunder or bolt of wild, illuminating lightning, but just the sweet song of the blackbird, early one bright May morning.
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Jon Swanson
yep, Joanna, just a whisper.
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Caryn Caffee
Love this. Also, I refer to that verse often. 🙂
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Jon Swanson
thanks Caryn
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Kari
Caryn,
Hello, this is probably ackward, and not the place to reconnect, but I have been trying to find you, and would like to try to reconnect. I look forward to hearing from you. The best place to reach me is km.crownover@yahoo.com. I hope to hear from you soon.
Kari Lawrence
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