My Day With Jesus

The following essay "My Day With Jesus" is the result of a "homework" assignment from my Truth @ Work ® Christian Business Roundtable Group. I recommend doing the exercise for yourself ...

I wake in a haze at 5:45AM on a weekday as my wife gets out of bed and heads to the bathroom to prepare for her day. Drifting in and out of sleep, my inclination is to sleep-in since I work from a home office and I’m just a little lazy but something, a presence in the room, brings me to full alertness. Someone is standing beside my bed! Is this a dream or is it real? I open my eyes. It’s real!

It’s Jesus! He’s standing beside my bed looking down on me – a slightly amused grin is on His face. His eyes widen.

He doesn’t speak but His warm smile projects a calming message and assurance that all is well and that I am His beloved. Beloved! I rise from bed just as my wife enters the room dressed in her “scrubs” (she works in health care). She’s at first startled by His presence but immediately processes the situation and declares, “It’s You - Jesus!” He nods yes. They share words and thoughts - like old friends. I don’t hear everything but there is a detailed conversation going on. The conversation is intimate and I am deeply gratified by it. I had no idea …

Somehow time goes by and Jesus sets my wife on her way without much ceremony – and she’s gone – to work. I am there alone with Jesus. He tells me that He is here to spend the day with me. I don’t know how to act. He assures me to just do what I would normally do and that he will just come along for the ride.

I shave and shower (all the while wondering whether or not He's poking around and what He's discovering while I'm getting ready) and then go downstairs to make some coffee. He's standing in the living room in front of my book cases looking at the volumes there. I grab a cup and offer Him one as I return to Him in the living room and my reading chair where I normally do a brief morning devotional. Jesus settles in the other chair in the room (my wife’s reading chair) and just gazes at me. I’m a little self-conscious. I pick up my Bible and open it to the book of James and begin to read but cannot help looking up at Him as He watches me with an approving smile. I feel like a little boy under the watchful eye of a loving and supportive teacher. I feel “right”. My mind drifts to prayer and somehow I feel Jesus’ thoughts flooding me with supplications for others I know in my life. The needs are extraordinary and deep and burdensome – I had no idea how others struggled compared to me. I begin to realize just how Jesus has cared for me and interceded for me in ways that I could never imagine praying for. I resolve to pray less for my needs, more for the needs of others and rest in thankfulness for His care and wisdom because He knows far better what I need and what to protect me from.

I have a coffee appointment with a Truth at Work ® contact so Jesus and I leave the house and head out. At the café where I regularly meet people, I get my coffee and grab a quiet table for my appointment. Jesus lingers at the counter talking to the women from whom I normally get my coffee and scone. They are entranced as He speaks to them about peace and love. He is so natural and relaxed and so genuinely interested in them. They are naturally drawn to Him. I wonder why it can seem so hard for me to project my faith to these people I regularly encounter and who know me. After a while He comes and sits with me just as my appointment, David, arrives.

David is a little confused at first when he sees my companion, so I introduce Jesus and David responds a little guardedly. David doesn’t recognize Jesus and I’m a little surprised since I thought David would be excited to meet Jesus face to face. The meeting starts to fall flat and David fumbles around a bit for an excuse that he has another meeting to attend. I’m a little embarrassed but Jesus keeps looking alternatively at David and then me reaching out with His hand and touching David’s arm gently while urging him to stay a little longer. I can feel His love flow toward David and I can actually see David’s posture change from tense and restless to relaxed and restful right there in his chair. Then Jesus plainly says to David that He loves him and David begins to weep softly. I am overwhelmed as I realize that right then and there Jesus is drawing David to Himself and David is releasing his life to Jesus. Everything that is going on around us in that café seems to melt away. The next thing I know we’re outside the café with David. We’re saying our farewells and embracing with the promise of meeting again soon. David looks remarkably different.

We walk down the busy street past people going about their business and I turn a corner toward my parked car. It isn’t long before I realize that Jesus is no longer with me. I backtrack and find him stooped down having a conversation with an old man sitting at the doorway of a building. The man is unkempt and weathered. Jesus looks up at me and asks, “May I have the eight dollars of cash in your pocket?” I check and that’s exactly what I have. After a moment of hesitation (now I’ll have no cash) I hand it over. Jesus places the money in the man’s hand and places his other hand over the money as he whispers a blessing on the man and says that He loves him and to remember what He said. The man genuinely appreciates the needed gift and nods, gently folding the money and putting it in his pocket. I don’t know what Jesus said to that man but it was obviously very personal and convicting. The man keeps looking at Jesus as we leave.

Then we are in my car headed to a meeting with one of my clients. We arrive in the lobby of the old building and the receptionist behind the glass panel recognizes me immediately but looks a little puzzled at my companion. I sign us in on the visitor log; Names: “Bill Girrier / Jesus Christ”, Company: (I pause - then write) “The Kingdom”. I’ve been calling on this account for two years and it occurs to me that I’ve never really told or indicated to the receptionist that I am a Christian. Then an expression of recognition crosses her face and she lifts from her chair, slides the glass panel open and, looking right past me and directly toward Jesus, her face explodes with joy as she exclaims, “You’re Jesus!”. “Yes I am Debbie”, He responds, “How are you and how is your daughter?”  Debbie disappears for a split second as she darts to the door that separates us from her small office. In an instant Debbie is with us in the waiting area and throws herself into Jesus’ arms. She’s crying and telling Jesus how her daughter is struggling but that she knows there is a plan and that no matter what the outcome that God knows best. I’m dumbfounded. Then I notice the picture of Jesus and the rosary beads hanging on the wall in Debbie’s small office. I remember seeing them and thinking that her religion was not as authentic as mine and writing off all chance of ever sharing my faith with her on account of that judgment.

Somehow, Jesus and I disengage from Debbie and we meet with the owner of the company, my client, in his office. I sort of awkwardly introduce my client to Jesus and I’m a little ashamed at how I’m almost apologizing for His presence with me. Jesus’ expression does not change but I feel a pang of regret for having let Him down. It occurs to me that Jesus has always been with me every time before only that He was invisible. Was His significance to me as invisible? Jesus has a way of putting my client at ease and the conversation takes off. I find my client asking Jesus many questions about life and business and decisions that I would have loved for my client to ask me. Jesus doesn’t answer every question that my client asks directly but His responses are thought provoking and ooze with wisdom and discernment. I marvel at how well He handles my client and how much my client appreciates what he imparts – even if it’s not a direct answer - but more a way, an approach or an attitude toward dealing with things. As we leave my client says something about how Jesus really impacted his heart on the matters that were important to him. His heart!

I take Jesus to lunch and the whole affair is one opportunity after another to express love, offer a kindness or express compassion and friendship toward the people we encounter. And we encounter SO MANY people. I just sit back and let Him lead. I experience no fear or self consciousness and it’s so easy with Jesus along.

I decide to finish the day by taking Jesus to my favorite beach and to a specific spot where I have spent many hours over the years alone contemplating and praying to Him. He knows the place very well and we walk together picking up beach glass of the most extraordinary colors, shapes and lusters. We look out over the water and I experience a fullness of the creation that blows my mind. I can actually see the wind and see the subtle temperatures of the water and fish below the surface. I can see for miles and miles with extraordinary clarity and I can see planets and stars and galaxies in the sky in broad daylight! It’s too much and I have to close my eyes. But then my ears pick up on so much that I have to beg Jesus to close them – and He does. And He puts His arm around me and whispers “my beloved” - and I am undone.

I ask Him what He thinks about the political, social and economic issues that have me and many others I know wondering about the path of the world. He gives me a knowing half-smile and shakes His head a little. With that I experience a surge of consciousness that He drew me to Himself and when I had surrendered to His irresistible attraction that He gave me a new heart and that I was no longer OF this world and not to concern myself so much with the superficial matters but simply to be anxious for nothing and follow Him led by my new heart. Then all those things swirling around about me came into perspective with a whisper – “love one another as I have loved you”. 

That night at dinner I marvel at the animated discussion Jesus is having with my wife. Our dog has taken a position at His feet, curled up, eyes closed tight and peaceful and he has not moved a molecule since taking his station there. I say a grace over our meal that is the grace of my life and it goes on and on and I don’t want to stop. My wife and I must have eaten but I don’t remember it, only that Jesus told us stories that I could have listened to for eternity.

The time passes and then Jesus gets up and says that He will be going. I experience a surge of grief, but only for a passing moment. His smile reassures me that He is not really leaving but merely passing from my sight and physical consciousness. Then He is gone.

My wife and I retire to our bedroom silent in our thoughts. As I get ready for bed I check the pockets of my pants for those dazzling pieces of beach glass that Jesus and I had found but they are not there except for one small, fairly plain and common looking artifact. It’s nothing that anyone would remark about and maybe it was already in my pocket from a previous trip to the beach. It doesn’t matter.

Laying back in bed I kiss my wife who is absolutely glowing, then turn and melt into the mattress slipping off into a deep, carefree, effortless sleep. Tomorrow is going to be different.      

All the best!

Bill 

Living FOR or IN The Moment

Am I living FOR or IN the moment? Sounds like an exercise in semantics and I suppose it is – substantive semantics. This topic has been on my heart for some time.

I recently heard the testimony of a man who, when faced with the decision to be loyal to a friendship and keep his word or seize a lucrative business opportunity, forsook his friend and his word. Oh, he faced his friend on the matter. He pleaded and pushed for a release from his obligations, and received a graceful response from his “true” but now “wounded” friend. He even looked himself in the mirror as he shaved and rationalized his actions against his responsibilities as a father and head of a household to be a good “provider”. So – he made his decision, sealed it with actions and … he never looked back.

This man’s wife knew about the decision, thought about it and appreciated the security and the lifestyle perks that his decision brought to her and their family. But deep down she had to admit that she was a little let down, a little disappointed, a little diminished.

We’ve all rationalized decisions that have compromised our honor and we too have never looked back. They litter our wake like so much flotsam and trash - - - Living FOR THE MOMENT.

A woman is sexually taunted and dishonored in public, a child is teased and bullied, a rude person pushes past an elder in line, a husband verbally abuses his wife in a public place, a homeless person is brushed aside or ignored, a person of faith is openly chastised – and no one intervenes or even offers a word of encouragement or a gesture of humanity - - - Convenient FOR THE MOMENT.   

A word spoken in anger that cannot be taken back. A child scarred, a wife wounded and wondering, a worker hurt, resentful and untrusting. A promise broken because it fell in the list of priorities - - - Sufficient FOR THE MOMENT.

“Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.” ~ Ambrose Bierce

I remember presenting a video program to the men of the church titled “Not A Fan” by Kyle Idelman/City on a Hill Productions. The main character in the story is a business man. This man was religious and no more self centered and ruthless than most but he compromised and ‘went along to get along’. One day he realized his regrettable behaviors and lifestyle. Circumstances in his life humbled him and in that brief pause he was called to true, balanced faith. He answered the call, placing his complete TRUST in Jesus Christ. Shortly thereafter he uttered these haunting words to his wife, “Now that God's in my life, I can't see my future, I can't see two feet in front of me. I don't know what's going to happen to me - and it's such a relief!”

I have no desire to cast negative regret by this message but regret is certainly an element of the equation. Regret is a powerful motivator. It is also a powerful shackle that can be attached to a load of baggage that will bog us down and stop us dead in our tracks. We can be inspired to change by regret or it can trap us into stagnancy. Jesus allows us to un-harness ourselves from our pasts and take on His yolk, a yoke that is gentle and easy; “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29-30).

Face it. We are created with a spirit and we WILL worship something. It may be a career, it may be sex, it may be food, it may be our very selves, it may be our anger for someone who mistreated us. We are going to be yoked one way or another. Regret is also a yoke - a thing worshipped.

“Regret for time wasted can become a power for good in the time that remains, if we will only stop the waste and the idle, useless regretting.” ~ Arthur Brisbane

“A person is not old until regrets take the place of dreams.”

~ John S. B. Barrymore

 “Many of us crucify ourselves between two thieves - regret for the past and fear of the future.” ~ Fulton Oursler

When regret results in noble action it is worthy and good. When it results in self pity and lingering contemplation it becomes a thing to regret all its own and an excuse for inaction. Living FOR THE MOMENT may result in regrets that prevent us from living IN THE MOMENT.

God is IN THE MOMENT. He presents opportunities EVERY MOMENT.  

Robert Lewis expounds on four traits that mark a true man in his series titled The Quest For Authentic Manhood of which Jesus serves as the truest model. These traits are the mark of authentic women as well. They are also the traits of people who live IN THE MOMENT.

1) A real man or woman REJECTS PASSIVITY.  Such a person intervenes, initiates, takes risks for the good and does not sit passively aside. Such a person engages. Such a one anticipates the regret that follows inaction. One is ready. One prepares. One acts.

2) A real man or woman ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY.

3) A real man or woman LEADS COURAGEOUSLY.

4) A real man/woman acts and does all things with his/her eyes set on a greater reward not found in this life.

I begin to realize that such people LIVE IN THE MOMENT FOR ETERNITY. Such a person’s life is known for its noble character, healthy relationships, God-serving, productive children and the achievement of great things toward truly noble causes.

Bottom line: Live not FOR the moment but IN the moment FOR eternity.

All the best!

Bill