Keeping In Touch

I have recently been quite surprised by the number of surprise calls from friends and folks whom I think of often, yet fail to keep in touch with very readily. These are actually people I consider friends and even family. I have been in their weddings, they in mine, I have even officiated a couple of them. And what a wonderful feeling it is to be extended God's grace in this way. To be thought of also in the same way your are thinking of them, yet something in life seems to get in the way at that moment you decide to reach out and touch them by phone. And I just don't care for the e-mail thing. That's for work in my opinion - a convenient way to help pass information that the world seems is important more quickly (i.e. get the crap out the way quicker).
I have decided that it is an important spiritual discipline to "keep in touch." Jesus was always reaching out and touching. That was the helaing ministry. And though in these relationships I have not been worthy to touch the hem of Christ's garments, I have been turned upon and healed wiht grace all the same. Of course, this may not be news to many. Of course it is spiritual to be keeping in touch. But I mean deeply touching each other, not just constantly or rapidly. I mean taking time every other night and devoting the kind of time you devote to your children or spouse - the kind of time where nothing else matters.
I am looking forward to my new practice. I am going to make it a priority to take time and call those who have recently contacted me first and work form there. As I enter more and more into this pastor stuff I am beginning to understand more and more the wise words Garrison Kiellor uses to sign off each morning from NPR's writer's almanac: "Be well, do good work, and keep in touch." And for those who think, "2 out of 3 isn;t bad at all," I'm here to tell you of these three none is greater than the other.