Knowing

Knowing about someone and really knowing someone are two different things. For instance, there are those who know about me. They know of me. They’ve been to my home and noted what they’ve seen; my kayaks and bikes in the garage, concluding that I’m an out-of-doors kind of a girl. 

Giving them the nickel tour through my house they see the pictures of my sons, grand kids and siblings on the walls; evidence of who is important to me.

Glancing at the types of books on my shelves they discern what I like to read. Seeing the space I’ve designated for my writing, they perceive that writing is important to me. 

 But do they really know me? No, not really. These folks just know some of the things about me.

Then there are those who really know me. One of my brothers, for instance, who has the habit of asking, “What is on your heart?” And recently, the friend who sent me a birthday card that aptly describes me as being wild, difficult and impossible to forget. 

These are just two examples of two people who really know me.

When someone knows about us, our relationship is cordial, cautious and intermittent. But, when someone really knows us then there is a continuous, steady, and deepening mutual relationship. We become comfortable in each other’s presence, attentive to one another’s words, sharing our innermost thoughts without fear. 

Which brings me to the question; have you ever thought about the difference between how we can know about God and how we can really know God? I have.

I used to just know about God. My parents introduced me to God, telling me that he existed and of course, I believed them. 

They gave me the nickel tour through their church. I noted the figure on the cross; dead and bloody. I noted the statutes of the saints, the pews, the baptismal and the confessional. I showed up on Sundays, but I wondered if God did. 

Then, when I was older and God was like a dead relative and a distant memory, he surprised me by showing up. I don’t remember calling him, but there he was. Noting my condition, alone and desperate, he offered an invitation, one that I could not refuse.  

Since then I’ve become comfortable in his presence, really knowing, believing and trusting him. Remarkable how knowing someone and really knowing them produces a totally different kind of relationship.

Why Bother?

Why bother really knowing someone? Knowing about someone means I’ve heard about them, I’ve read something about them, or I’ve seen their posts on FB or Instagram. But really knowing someone produces a totally different kind of relationship.

P.S.  I wrote the story of my journey to forgiveness for those who, like me, know they need to change, but are not quite sure where to start. You can find A Heart’s Journey To Forgiveness at Redemption Press and Amazon.