While driving through town this late afternoon one would have to be blind not to see the parking lots at the local bars are packed. I wondered how the buildings could hold all the people if there were only one person per car. I also noticed the parking lots at the churches were empty. Surely there had to be at least one church in town holding a Super Bowl party. They could have pizza and hot chocolate or soda. While I am comfortable watching the game in my chair there are lots of people who want to watch the game with friends. There is something bonding about cheering on the hometown team. And like the theme song to the sitcom Cheers,
“Making your way in the world today takes everything you’ve got
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot
Wouldn’t you like to get away?
Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name
And they’re always glad you came
You wanna be where you can see our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows your name.”
There is something magical about our names. It feels good inside when meeting someone who knows and says your name. When I was a pastor I tried to learn the children’s names. Parents beam when the pastor kneels down, shakes hands and calls a little guy by his name. People like to go where they are cared for. It is one of the great things about going to heaven. God knows our names. Just like on the Price is Right, we will hear our names called with a variation. Instead of “Come on Down.” It’s going to be “Come on Up.” How sweet that will be!
Written by Roger Bothwell on February 1, 2015
Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org