Seeing An Old Friend

I talk to people. Its what I do. Checkout lines, bus stops, airplanes. Its a past time. I notice people, and their families. I'm aware of who comes in and out of rooms. This is a blessing and a curse.

Yesterday, I was at St. Arbucks on Harvey road in Auburn. I was meeting with a pastor friend of mine. We were just talking about life, and church and stuff that pastors talk about. As we were sitting there, a guy walked into the Starbucks that I recognized.

It was a guy named Chris that I went to High School with. I hadn't seen him in years. He and I were on the football team together. We weren't the best of friends, but we knew each other.

He was wearing a uniform for some sort of delivery company, and had a baseball hat on also. He didn't notice me, but I noticed him, and mid sentence, I stopped my friend and told him that I knew that guy.

I don't know if you ever see old friends from way back when, but usually when I do, its pretty neat to catch up for a minute and see what they are up to. I was in the middle of meeting, but I couldn't help myself. I called out to him- "Hey, is your name Chris?" I was so excited to talk to him.

His reply- "no, my name is Felipe".

Oops. Not Chris. Not high school friend. No one I knew.

My friend and I laughed about it. It was funny. I'm sure I'm not the only one that this happens to. Just another case of mistaken identity. I was sure it was him. I was positive it was him. I was just wrong, that's all.

Do you know what's really cool though? Even though I may not always remember someone or recognize them, that God does? With Him, there is never a case of mistaken identity. He knows who everyone is. Where they are and what is going on in their life.

That gives me comfort today. Even if I don't get people's names and faces right, God always does. He knows Felipe, and he knows you, and he won't ever get it wrong.

Be blessed today
matt