Francisco’s Cantina in Durango was the go to Mexican restaurant for
decades. It was also one of my accounts when I worked for Coca Cola, and often
ate lunch there. Many times after we moved we talked of lunches eaten there,
and a desire to return, but 1000 miles for a meal is a bit much, even for me,
200-250 maybe, but 1000, I need a weekend. Now if you think California Mexican
food is good, to me it is slop, with a few exceptions like Figaro’s in Tulare,
and El Cholo, a So Cal legend since 1923. But one vacation had us returning to
Durango to visit Dal and the family, and my boss Gary and his family had planned
to vacation there at the same time, not knowing we were too or our connection to
Durango. So we would spend a day together and show them the sights, as locals
not as tourists, and eat at Francisco’s. Now as anyone knows, when you get more
than one person together, you have scheduling problems, and I had told them
Francisco’s fills up fast, so let’s eat earlier so we don’t have to wait. And
so we waited.....and by the time we arrived, the line was out the door.
Francis’s son Francis, Jr. aka Skip was a helper on my route with me, and
we got to be good friends. Even occasionally after 30 years I hear from him.
But that day, after having moved away and not seen him for over five years, as
we stood in line, I heard “Hey Mike, is that you?” It was Skip, “How many?”
Yelling eight above the crowd noise, he said “come on in I have your table
ready!” I had told my boss Skip and I were friends, I never expected him to be
working that day, or to be greeted as we were. Man did I feel important walking
past the others still waiting in line, it is good to know people in important
places, but there is nothing like old friends. It was good to see Skip, even
better to be seen by him.
In 1995 the Baja 1000 began in Tijuana for the first time in years. I was
dealing with SONY in Mexico at the time, and my contacts there all loved the
races, and took off the day to attend. I would meet them at contingency and
show them around, they were excited. After an hour of getting stickers and
pictures and posters, we cut down a back street to get lunch, when we ran into
Ivan Stewart, doing the same thing. I did business with Ivan and knew him, he
was a hero to these guys, and he stopped and visited, had a picture taken with
each one of them,signed autographs, then took off, “good to see you Mike,” and
was off to another appointment. Mario, their boss was grinning ear to ear, as
were the other four, they had met the Ironman, a true hero in off road racing,
and the pictures would prove they had. But I knew him, and maybe Mario said it
best, “you said you knew him, but we didn’t realize he was your friend.”
We never know the impact we are going to have on others, or the people we
will meet. While some go to church, attend church, scripture tells us we are
the church, no building, no temple, no house can contain him. He dwells in our
hearts, so on the road, at home at dinner, eating at Francisco’s or racing in
Baja, he is with us. He never leaves,and as he tells us, “his word is written
on our hearts.” Who is this word, Jesus. So when we are saved, Jesus signs our
hearts. A lifelong autograph that never fades or wears out. Which gives us
access to the kingdom, and all its riches and privileges. In the house of God,
which is never a building, we see Moses serving, faithfully, but within the laws
that God had given him. Servants cannot tell when, where, how, or to whom they
serve, they just serve. And Moses did. As a servant he was preparing things,
making a way, and working in anticipation of a savior yet to come. He works
based on what God has planned for him, like we do today, but Moses only had
limited access as a servant. The law insured that.
But he was preparing the way for Jesus, the son to take over. What is the
role of a son in the house? To be ready to take over, to take over everything,
to possess it, to use it as he pleases. The house was made for him. And that
was the plan of God for his son Jesus, and if we are saved, we have the same
access, the same relationship as he does with God. He calls us friends, no
longer servants, we become children of God when we believe. And as family we
have access to all of the things of God, through Jesus Christ. Just like Skip
had taken over for his Dad, God recognizes us on judgment day and in the crowd
calls us to come in. No waiting in line, as family we have access. And enter
in as friends.
Amazingly enough, Jesus never owned property, and was even laid to rest in
a borrowed tomb. Which he soon vacated. If going to church ain’t making it,
know you are the church, the spirit lives within you, the building is only a
meeting place. It can be a home, a strip mall, or conventional church building,
but without people who know Jesus in it, it is just that, a building. Without
the spirit it is no better than a cemetery, but in the spirit, in Jesus,
wherever two or more are gathered, he is among us. And since his spirit is
always with us, you are always at least that two, you are forever in church,
having church, and always with Jesus. Family, with all the rights and none of
the regulations. Except love. We are having church right now a you read this!
Maybe Mario said it best, “ we didn’t realize he was your friend.” Do you call
him friend? Are you a church or attend a church? Are you a servant, or do you
dwell within God’s house? God’s purpose is to make you that dwelling place that
his spirit inhabits, via Jesus Christ in your life. The will of God is for you
to know Jesus. He wants you to be a place he dwells, the manifestation of his
life in you. Paul simply asks “do you not know you are a vessel in which the
holy spirit dwells?” Well, do you?
love with compassion,
Mike
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