Christmas break 1997. I was a sophomore in college and was home visiting friends. A group of summer camp counselors I worked with that summer decided to reunite and spend the day at Busch Gardens.

Part way through the day I realized I was gravitating towards this one particular girl. I had hardly spoken to her the previous summer. She spent most of her time at the horse program while I spent the majority of my summer on the waterfront.

She was cute, laid back, not like most of the other girls that summer who were more of the peppy cheerleader type. This was the girl that made fun of those girls.

As the day progressed, we spent more and more time together, telling each other stories, making fun of tourists, and enjoying the time in long ride lines with our friends.

A little over 6 years later we got married.

I never would have gotten to know my wife if we hadn’t spent time together.

So, when I hear people say they don’t know God, or they don’t think there is a God, I have to wonder if they’ve ever tried to spend any time with him.

You can’t expect to know someone if you’ve never spent any time with them.

You know your favorite football players because you see them play every week. You know reality TV stars because you binge watch them on Netflix. You know movie stars because you stand in line with them at the grocery store and read all about the terrible and wonderful things they do.

But of course, football players, and reality TV and movie stars will likely never know you because they will never get to spend any time with you.

God already knows you. He knows every hair on your head. He stitched you together in your mother’s womb and follows your life more closely than even the biggest Kardashian fan. He is always near you, always trying to spend time with you, and always willing to listen, empathize, forgive, and tell you how amazing you are.

Lately, it seems like we all have too much going on in our lives to take the time to seek God.

Work. Family. Volunteering. Personal issues. Drama.

When did we stop putting God first in our lives and start bowing down at the alter of Busy.

Psalm 46:10-11

“Be still, and know that I am God!

I will be honored by every nation.

I will be honored throughout the world.