If I could have a beer with Jesus

"When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." Luke 19. 5

Yesterday wasn't a day for cycling, so I opted to drive out to Elgol for the weekly notice sheet delivery. Tuning in to Radio nan Gaidheal, my ears were accosted with a Country & Western singer crooning "If I could have a beer with Jesus..." You may consider the notion irreverent, as I did initially, especially in the face of lines like:

"He can probably only stay, for just a couple rounds But I hope and pray he's stayin' till we shut the whole place down!"

Yet the song continues...

"How'd you turn the other cheek To save a sorry soul like me Do you hear the prayers I send What happens when life ends And when you think you're comin' back again?"

Well, aren't these just the questions that would be on our own lips (however ill advised we know it is to press Jesus on the timing of his return, when he has already informed us that he cannot say)? And, although it's not the same, we already have the invitation to pour out our hearts to Jesus because he has sent the Holy Spirit to abide with us forever. So, whether over a beer, a cup of tea, or whatever you favourite tipple might be, sit down a and talk to him. Tell him what is on your mind, your worries, your hopes, people you are concerned for, situations you long to change.

In the military, one of the nicknames for chaplains is "God-botherer"! The fact is that God is not like us. He is always available and multi-tasking is no problem. And, as we know from the account of Creation in Genesis as well as Jesus' words to Lazarus (quoted above), he likes to take time out... Maybe you are wondering, if God knows everything why bother asking him what he already knows? Fair point but what parent, aware of the needs of their child, does not delight in that child running up, clambering on their knee and blurting out their request? Relationships are built on communicating, so why not prioritise the most important?