Did you ever feel like Norm, on the television show, “Cheers”? Did you ever want to? Norm would walk into the local bar & restaurant, Cheers, and the whole place would say, “Norm!” in greeting. The show’s theme song included these words:

“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.

You wanna go where people know, people are all the same,

You wanna go where everybody knows your name.” *

I’ve never absolutely found my “Cheers.” I worked on great teams, belonged to great churches and have lifelong friends who come close. Last week, Annie & I were blessed to spend time with our three daughters, our two son-in-laws and three grandkids. There were some real “Cheers” moments there, including a few moments alone with my youngest granddaughter, Natalie, as we all prepared to leave. She looked up from her play pen, with her big 8-month-old eyes, zeroed in on me, sat up and gave me a huge smile. I felt wrapped in love. Natalie knows my name, even if she has no idea what people call me.

God knows our names (and what people call us – and the names we call other people). In the Kingdom of God, which Jesus brought near to us here and now, this is how we are to know everyone, and to be known by everyone. We are all, “Beloved.” In the Kingdom, we have the glorious opportunity to see each other that way – and to be seen that way. No one should have to wait to walk through the pearly gates to hear their version of “Norm!” We can be God’s love to one another now, as Natalie was to me – even if, and especially if, we don’t know what someone is called. Just think, “Beloved!”

Read Psalm 139: 1 – 18, and remember: Beloved, God loves you UNCONDITIONALLY!

Mike

Today’s reading: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+139%3A+1-18&version=NRSV

*source: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/tvthemes/cheerslyrics.html