Note from Pastor Jana In seminary, we loved the lounge in our dorm building. We all gathered there frequently. Random conversations, game playing, tv watching, it all happened there. One time, we started talking about Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. This theory rests on the assumption that anyone involved in the Hollywood film industry can be linked through their film to Kevin Bacon. We then were trying to figure out what our number would be. Don’t we all think about this at some point? At the time, former press secretary Mike McCurry was a fellow seminary student. He attended church where one of our friends was the youth director. Our group of friends had encountered him enough that it was more than an acquaintances. Of course, he was mentioned. It was decided that he knew Bill Clinton, who probably had encountered Kevin Bacon. Thus, we were then 2 degrees away. (If that theory checks out, you are now 3 away, you’re welcome!) We hold certain people with high esteem. Knowing them personally can make us feel a pride and can build our egos, if we are honest. We are in awe of knowing them. Is that the same for our relationship with Jesus? Do we hold that same awe in knowing Jesus? After all, anyone can know Jesus, so it Is that the same for our relationship with Jesus? Do we hold that same awe in knowing Jesus? After all, anyone can know Jesus, so it's not about exclusivity or degrees of separation. Rather, it's about the depth of understanding, the intimacy of connection, and the transformative power that comes from knowing Him. Unlike knowing a celebrity or a prominent figure, knowing Jesus isn't just about a casual acquaintance; it's about entering into a profound relationship that transcends human connections and reaches into the realm of the divine. It's about encountering the source of unconditional love, boundless grace, and eternal truth. In knowing Jesus, we find not just someone to admire from afar, but a Savior to walk alongside, a friend who understands our deepest joys and struggles, and a guide who leads us into abundant life. So yes, the awe in knowing Jesus far surpasses any admiration we may feel for human figures, for in Jesus, we find the fullness of God's glory and the depth of love for us. May we be certain to seek that closer relationship through this wilderness season. In Christ, Pastor Jana
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