Some people you know so well that you can hear their voice when they are not talking: in an email, a personal birthday card, or scribbled comment on a sticky note. I have a couple of those friends.
Shaunda, a good friend from college, recently left after a year of service to Gimbie. Our good-bye was short, and the moment of farewell was relatively painless. After the loaded Land Cruiser was out of sight, I headed home to the house we had shared. I found a note with my name printed in familiar handwriting; it was from Shaunda. While reading her reminiscent and encouraging words I heard her voice.
As I went about my morning routine, my mind drifted back to scrubbing walls with Shaunda at Green Lake clinic, to our rhythmic breathing during early morning runs, and human-wheel barrel stress relief exercises. The reality of Shaunda’s absence hit at various moments throughout the day: while choosing clothes from our now half empty closet, when I went to check the time on Shaunda’s now-missing alarm clock, and while sitting in the office we once shared. There was a hole, yet there is hope that we will cross paths in the States.
I wondered if Jesus’ disciples felt the same mix of emotions after He ascended to heaven. Did they walk along a certain path “remembering when,” or attend synagogue only to replay one of Jesus’ sermons in their head? I wonder if reading Matthew’s account of Jesus’ life triggered a mental sound clip of Jesus’ voice.
Wouldn’t it be great if miraculously an MP3 of Jesus giving the Sermon on the Mount was available?! What if we could hear each pause, or when his voice got shaky because of his passion, or spontaneous joy in a conversation? Although the inflection is unknown, we still have his powerful words.
Like Shaunda’s note, the meaning of the Gospels is amplified with relationship. So, explore nature, meditate on holy lyrics, read the Gospels, and remember the cadences of his words and the value of his message.