He likes me

Today was my last class for "The Bible as Literature." I thought it was appropriate of Professor Walker to end with us talking about the Gospels and the life of the Savior.

I was thinking about Samantha's post on being emotionally intimate and how I am afraid to share my weaknesses with others. I want people to think that I'm strong, that I'm funny, that I'm smart, that I'm confident, that I'm knowledgeable, etc. Part of that, I think, is that I'm afraid if people see my weaknesses they won't like me as much, or at all. I know that's silly, but it's true. So when Professor Walker shared the following experience with us I realized how emotionally intimate we are with the Savior--whether we like it or not.

He said it was during the most difficult time of his life. One night, he had a dream. He dreamed that he walked into the Church offices in Salt Lake, and barged right into the Christ's office. Here he was, storming through the doors of the office of the Savior of the World without an appointment. Jesus was there, talking with his secretary, and looked up at Professor Walker. "Those eyes," he told us, "were like nothing I had ever seen. He knew me, and what's more he liked me. He knew all of the secrets, all of the sleez and filth that I'm ashamed to even think of, and yet he liked me. He liked me more than anyone else had ever liked me--more than my mother, more than my wife--He loved me."

And that made me think--Christ knows me. I can hide all of my weaknesses from everyone else, but he knows them. And he still likes me! He still loves me more than anything. He really will be my advocate at the last day--when I'm ashamed of the things I did wrong, he'll be there to point out the things I did right.

Maybe we are better than we think.