We Need To Talk

Supposedly, these four words are the most dreaded in a marriage or relationship. “We need to talk.” It usually translates to the hearer as, “What have I done wrong this time?” Which is why, in part, I’m taken by the way Jesus, shortly after the resurrection, handled the first awkward moments with his disloyal disciples. The terrified, disheartened group huddled behind locked doors when, suddenly, Jesus showed up in their midst. Unlike me, the first words from Jesus aren’t, “We need to talk.” Instead he speaks four unimaginable words. “Peace be with you.”(John 20:19, NLT)

And, as if their wide eyes and open mouths needed further proof they weren’t in a dream, Jesus held out his hands to them. Loving, vulnerable, forgiving Jesus. No clenched fists and no finger pointing, followed by verbal rebukes and shaming. Jesus simply opens his arms, extends his nail punctured palms towards them and invites them to come and see. Then Jesus, instead of blowing up at them, breathes on them and speaks four more stunning words. “Receive the Holy Spirit.”(John 20:22, NLT)

And they did receive that unimaginable gift from God. How do we know? They unlocked the door and the fearFULL became the fearLESS. They spread out and spread the word that Jesus was alive. And they kept sharing that and the Gospel’s Good News for as long as they had breath.

A few days after this reunion with Jesus, some went fishing. Life goes on. You gotta eat, feed your family, earn a living. Or maybe it just felt good to come out of hiding and do something familiar. Take a deep breath. You can read the whole story in John 21. It’s a thriller, especially if you love fishing, like Jud did. Spoiler alert, Jesus shows up.

But this time, when they see Jesus, he’s cooking up a heart-healthy meal on the shore. Then he speaks four of my favorite words, “Come have some breakfast.” When I go out to California to visit my family, I love to go out for breakfast at Comforts. Julie, Heather’s good friend and mine often goes with me or one of the Grands. Heather and I do lunch. Well, this beach-side breakfast turned out to be COMFORT food, for sure. Especially for Peter. Better than fresh bread and fish is fresh forgiveness and purpose.

This morning as I sat in a favorite place to pray I said, in essence to Jesus, “We need to talk.” And I do talk, and fuss about this and that. Sometimes I simply sob. God knows my heart, and needs but I babble on. Truth is, I need to listen more. Maybe in the stillness, I’d hear Jesus whisper, “Come have some breakfast.” God only knows what Jesus would concoct to feed my deepest hopes, settle my anxious heart and offer wisdom to help me “faith” the day.

Now that’s real comfort food for my soul.

Dare I ask for a side of crispy bacon?

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