EARL AND ARNOLD

Wonder if you are an old friend? “Who is this e-mail from?” I thought.

“Rick, did you grow up in Centreville? Graduate 73? Know a big goof by the name of Earl?”  I laughed. Thirty-three years had passed. Off went a quick response. “Here’s a hint—Arnold.”

Yes, he knew Arnold. That was my nickname in high school. I wasn’t too fond of it since it was the namesake of a cute pig on a popular television show of that era. Arnold-the-pig comparison aside, it was great wandering back to those old memories. I have many smile worthy ones with Earl.

Another e-mail to Earl: “So tell me about life. Where do you live? Wife? Kids? Job? What do you do for fun? Spiritual life? Etc?”

Pondering through a deep searching of my brain, I thought: “Spiritual life?”  Earl and I had been best friends. We both attended churches every Sunday. We both thought of ourselves as Christians, yet it’s highly doubtful we ever had one significant spiritual conversation. Realistically, it’s doubtful we even had a frivolous, shallow one. More than likely—zero.

God says, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” This is our central theme as Christians. And then it goes on to say, "These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart . . . you shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.”

So God, if we love You we are supposed to talk about You and your commands? Even outside of church? Should we start with our good friends?