Where is your Bethany?

“Jesus led them out as far as Bethany, raised His hands, and blessed them.”  Where is your Bethany? That place where God extends His sacred hand out to you, welcomes you, embraces and hugs you, makes you feel as if the world revolves around you, where He draws all His attention to you through the grace and gift of special bonds, friendships and spiritual relationships. That special place you can call your home away from home, your spiritual house of prayer, your sacred spiritual place, where you can laugh, learn, grow, be childlike and play like Jesus in those hidden years. That special sacred space where Jesus waits for you, welcomes you, blesses you among those special spiritual extended family members we happily call friends. That place you miss being in even before you leave and cannot wait to return even before leaving the threshold of the door. That place where you can truly rest and relax and really recreate and be yourself. Not the place you escape from reality or becomes your distraction from personal duties and responsibilities but rather your place of formation and refuge. Bethany for Jesus was that long for place. That place of friendly, personal, intimate encounters. Bethany for Jesus was His home away from home, an extended family, a faith filled encounter and a retreat like experience. Bethany for Jesus was that place where he did not have to worry or think, be troubled or concerned, defend Himself or be tested. It was the place He enjoyed visiting. A place He could return, stay and remain. The place He could share a gracious meal amongst trusted friends, listen with attentiveness to their personal sharing and engagement, trust that he would hear the truth told and shared in His presence and know that he was truly loved, believed, cared for and respected. Bethany was such an important part of the journey, that Jesus took His disciples with Him and taught them to go there often. It is a house of blessing, a safe place to shed a tear, a shoulder to cry on, a friend to laugh with, a comfort, a sturdy shelter, a treasure. At times, life puts us in places where we are not welcome, places we would rather not be. Places that yell, bicker, argue, and lie.  Places of disordered sinful pleasures. Dishonest workspaces that lure us and rob us of our peace, patience and joy. Bethany rather, is that special place where we feel loved not judged, welcomed not an outcast, truly part of God’s family.