Big Deal

Some weeks are just hard. Things happen. You can't control them. You simply ride the week out and hope and pray it will end well. Torrential rains, flooding, levees breaking, more flooding, receding water, tornados, funerals, broken relationships, addictions, exhaustions, friends in need, failures, successes, the smile of a baby . . . and more take us on a roller coaster ride of highs and lows with very little "flat" time just to recoup. As a person of responsibilities, a person to whom others turn during their highs and lows, there are days when you just want to run away "where nobody knows your name."

Needing such a time, old television series are an escape--even for just a few minutes. So, turning to Hulu, searching for something light, "Touched By An Angel" provided such a respite for a "feel good" moment to unwind. The story was a simple, feel good, theme. An underlying theme was the importance of our name--the history, the association, being known as a good person. It triggered a memory of voices in the past doing the same.

Then the story came to the big reveal--the message from God.

Who you are--your name--doesn't matter to God. God loves you and knows who you are no matter what your name is. Who you are is not your named or your family. Who you are is more essential than that--it comes from God. What you make of yourself is what you give back to God.

The words comforted me. Sitting death watch--as my husband's mother is about to pass from this life to the next brings reflation. Who are we? Who do others think we are? How are we remembered? What is the big deal?

God, you created us. You formed us. You know us. We do not have to have to be famous for you to love us. Our name is not what is important in life. What is important is you--giving back to you a small portion of the blessings and opportunities you have given us. Help us, O God, to love others as you love us. Help us to remember the big deal is not our name, but that we are all yours. So be it. Amen.