A simple story? I think not.

There is a story that is often told of an older couple in a pick-up truck driving down a road. In my mind, it's a country road. He's driving. She's in the passenger seat looking out the window as one would do in a pick-up truck on a country road.

It's been a long time since I've heard this story but she turns to him and says something like: "You know, when we were younger, we'd sit next to each other. You'd hold my hand. We'd talk. Over the years that stopped. What do you suppose happened?"

I'm guessing he would have thought about this a little bit, then he answers, "Well, I never moved."

This story is often used to show our relationship with God. I've heard it preached before....

I. Hate. This. Story.

And I've given it a lot of thought lately. I really hate it. It's a strong emotion, I know, but I'm beginning to get passionate about it. So I'll go with hate.

I'm really not sure what started this all - but it's been on my brain and shall now be downloaded here.

This story is often used to show our relationship with God. It shows that we often move away, while God remains right where He is. Therefore it is our choice to move closer or to move more distant.

This story uses humans to get the point across. Emotions in a relationship wax and wane. Sometimes we have strong feelings for someone and sometimes we really don't like them very much. Let alone sit next to them in a pick-up truck.

You see, unlike the husband in the story, God is every pursuing us. He is ever chasing after us because He WANTS a relationship with us. He is so much more reliable, faithful, diligent in His pursuit of us than we are in our earthly relationships.

The husband in the story was probably just enjoying life and never even considered that his wife missed the hand holding and the nearness. He apparently didn't pursue her...or maybe even say, "Hey, sit here today."

God is not like that He pursues to the ends of the earth. I love that about Him.
If I get still I can hear the callings, feel the draw of Him. "come to me" it almost seems to say. It's rather poetic and romantic.

That's why I hate that story. I don't think it accurately portrays the depth of the relationship God wants to have with us. I don't think it touches, at all, the desire of His heart to have us sit next to Him.

While we might move away, like the lady in the pick-up truck, He never stops pursuing. While we might turn our back, He never stops wanting us. He's always faithful to welcome us home when we return. It's like we've never left. I love that about God.

When we stop, and listen, I think He let's us catch Him.
Even though, He's been in pursuit the entire time.