Being Known

The funniest thing happened to me the other day. But before I can tell you what happened, I have to give you some background. Before all of our lives were changed by COVID-19, I had a pretty good routine going on. In the morning on my way to work, I would stop by my favorite coffee shop, where they not only recognized me, but they also recognized my car. They would have my drink ready for me by the time I got to the window. And some days, when the line was long, one of the employees would walk my coffee right out to me in the line, I would pay her with cash and say, “keep the change,” and then pull out of line and go to work. I must say I was pretty spoiled, and I knew it.

In the afternoons I would often go through one of two McDonald’s drive-thrus. I’m not much of a fast food fan, although I will admit to succumbing to the occasional temptation and buying a small french fries. But, what I do like at McDonald’s is their large unsweetened iced tea for only one dollar ($1.08 to be exact when tax is added on)! The one McDonald’s closest to my work, where I went the most often, I recognized the woman in the drive-thru window, and we would occasionally chat as I waited in line. However, the other McDonald’s drive-thru, I had really not been paying much attention to the employees.

I have to say that this WAS my habit when I actually drove to work. (I can now successfully walk my commute from my bedroom to my desk in 30.6 seconds, and I don’t pass any coffee shops along the way!!!) But, the other day, I had to go out and about to visit a patient. On my way back, I thought to myself, “I am going to go and get myself one of those $1 iced teas. I went to the drive-thru to order, successfully made my order and eventually pulled up to the window to pay. The woman inside McDonald’s said to me, “I haven’t seen you in a while.” I was surprised because 1) I didn’t think I had really frequented this McDonald’s that much, and 2) I didn’t recognize her. I told that I was working primarily from home. THEN, she said, “Well, I always remember you when you come through, because you are always happy, and you make me smile!” Well, you could have knocked me over with a feather; I didn’t even remember this woman, and here she knew me and appreciated my smile and humor. Well, this was humbling.

I took a good look at her and promised myself I would remember her. (I was NOT going to make this mistake again!) I drove ahead to the pickup window and waited briefly. When the hand came out holding my unsweetened iced tea (note: always take a sip of the iced tea before you pull out to make sure you have unsweetened tea), and I looked up, I discovered that this hand belonged to the same young woman whose face I had just memorized at the “pay” window. I asked her, “Are you working both windows today?” And, we had a good laugh.

This entire experience was just such a surprise to me, because once again, I was just bopping through life, doing my thing, having no idea that someone recognized me, that I was “known” to them. And I really had no idea that my bopping through life was having an effect on someone – even a positive effect.

I will admit that there have been times in my very public role as a pastor that I would seek out places where I could be unknown – I just needed to get out of the fishbowl I was living in and relax and be myself. Oh I wasn’t going to do anything illegal, immoral or unethical; I just wanted some freedom from being known. That said, most of the time it feels great to be know. I know I am dating myself, but people of my generation remember Norm on the show, Cheers. Every time Norm entered the bar and said hello, the entire crowd of people in the bar would yell, “Norm.” That is the kind of belonging and being known that we tend to crave.

When I contemplate being known, I am reminded that God knows me. I take great comfort in how deeply and intimately God knows me. I remember one time years ago, hedging in my prayers, not saying what I really should be saying, because I didn’t want to tell God the whole story. Suddenly I thought to myself, “What am I doing? God already knows!” But the reality is that I don’t have to say anything. God already knows my joys and sorrows, my successes and failure, my celebrations and my regrets. And that is comforting. It’s kind of like sitting with a friend that is such a good friend that you can sit in silence and not HAVE to talk. I hope for all of you out there in cyberland that you may know the joy of God knowing you intimately.

Psalm 139 (excerpt)

You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.