Where we are

I don’t know if its my age or I’m just absent-minded.

Level 1- I say “yes” then I forget about it and say “no” later. I mention something and then I ask someone else what I said. I enter a ONE WAY road even if I already saw the sign.

Level 2 – I’m  holding my car key, then a few minutes after I forget where it is. I was driving along the South Road Properties and then I didn’t know why I took the tunnel instead of turning left to a previous road. I was facing the mirror ready to brush my teeth. I took the shampoo bottle and poured it on my toothbrush. Waaah! When has shampoo become toothpaste?

Level 3- Fortunately, I haven’t reached this stage (lol). It may be an inevitable thing to happen when people age, but please, God, can you spare me from this in the future?

I saw my late father succumb to this level. Lying in his bed, he would pull out a needle from a box and start sewing. But the problem was  there was  no box, needle, thread or cloth. He would move his fingers and do the motions of sewing like it was real. My daughter would laugh at how I would whisper softly to my Dad and slowly take away the imaginary needle from his hand and store away the thread and box. I told him to sleep and sew later. I was not making a mockery out of it. I knew that Alzheimer’s disease was eating him away. So I simply understood where his mind was and met him where he was.

Jesus meets us where we are, too. Luke 24:13-35 talks about two men walking on the road to Emmaus and failed to recognize it was already Jesus, already resurrected, who was walking with them. They even invited Him to their house for supper and it was only when He took the bread and blessed, broke it and gave it to them, did their eyes widened and  recognized him.

Sometimes in our absent-mindedness, whether level 1 or 2, we think we are right in what we’re doing. Later, we would realize we’re wrong and then we feel ashamed and guilty. Some people get affected deeply that they even hate themselves for doing the wrong things. They feel unworthy, incapable and sinful.

But Jesus meets us where we are. In the gospel of Mark 2:17, He said “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

No matter who we are, what we are, what we have done or still doing, Jesus is Emmanuel or “God with us”. Remember how  He unhesitatingly accepted the invitation of chief tax collector Zaccheus to come to the latter’s house and eat. All around people’ eyebrows went up. Tax collectors were their oppressors and people regarded them as sinners, unfit to be saved. So why would a holy man like Jesus join a group of sinners?

But that’s just it. Jesus will never be absent-minded, forgetful, or have an attack of amnesia with  people who are sinning against Him, His Father and the Holy Spirit. His love is immense, the water to our soil and what makes us whole.

It’s us who easily complain that God has forgotten us. We keep doing the wrong things, fail in our plans, chase the wrong dreams and get hurt and we wonder if anyone, anywhere, even cares. It can feel so dark and alone there. You pray yet God seems to be not listening or maybe even sleeping. And you think you’re forgotten.

But even when we feel completely deserted, God has not forgotten.  He sees our pain and He feels the hurt, too. He meets us where we are no matter and whatever!

He cares so much and He has not forgotten. Again, I don’t know if it’s my age showing or simply being absent-minded, but I take precautions not to forget anything.  I write them down on the palm of my hand.

Jesus is no different. He said in the book of Isaiah, “ …I have written you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.”

Our problems are His. Present them  to Him. He will always be there where we are, to lead us to a life that is overflowing with abundance and joy.

All that we need to do is to step out of that rut and step forward in faith.

Amnesia, forgetfulness or even Alzheimer’s disease can catch up with us, but we should never ever forget that there’s a God who loves us. Our pains build our character and push us to become better people.

Quit looking at what’s wrong and start voicing all the things that are right about your life. Forget about  anything else, but always remember to lift your voice to praise God and say a prayer of thanksgiving.

Where we are, even when absent-minded or stricken with Alzheimer’s, just raise those hands in sweet surrender and Jesus is always there to lift you up and push you forward—using those same hands that carry our name.