I want to see your face.

My daughter wrote those words to me today. It made me feel all warm inside -- very beloved. And then very blue because we could not get Skype to work. It's been a while since I've seen her face. The moment I collect her at International Arrivals -- seeing her face to face -- I'll need a veil like Moses did after seeing God, I'll be shining so brightly!

Why is seeing each other so important? We talk on the phone and can hear inflection and tone -- listen to shared sentiments and information. We can even do a great deal of that via texting these days. But, if the eyes are truly a window to the soul, I guess that answers the question. Of course, I would add the dimension of touch to complete the package.

Have you ever spent so much time with someone that you start to pick up on their mannerisms? People have told me over and over again that my daughter doesn't look a thing like me! Ouch. But one day, long ago on a middle school field trip, a really understanding dad assured me that we did "look" alike -- that we had the same mannerisms and facial expressions. His comment still makes me smile. He understood. I can't remember who he was, let alone what his kid looked like -- but I wonder if he suffered the same continuous commentary so said this to me out of empathy. Maybe he was just being kind. Maybe my daughter and I really do have similarities ... but I think she's a pretty unique package. Anyway, we tend to assimilate the movements, gestures and forms of speech of those we love and with whom we spend a lot of time. We assume these mannerisms through face-to-face contact with others.

Moses saw God. Of course who knows what he actually saw -- yeh, a bush on fire but that didn't burn-up -- a pillar of smoke, guiding the way to the Promised Land. But what about God's actual face? According to Exodus 33:20-23, "Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen." This kind of makes me giggle ... so what do those back parts look like? What did Moses see in the tent when he, alone, approached the Holy of Holies such that he had to shield his burning face from his people? A couple of stone tablets? a golden ark? or God's actual essence -- his likeness, in which we are all created?

I think we see God's face anytime we know love or experience joy through people in our lives. Look in the mirror. What do you see? Do you see God's face?

This is not a trick question. What is the "image of God?" im-age: [im-ij] noun, 1. a physical likeness or representation of a person, animal, or thing, photographed, painted, sculptured, or otherwise made visible. 2. an optical counterpart or appearance of an object, as is produced by reflection from a mirror, refraction by a lens, or the passage of luminous rays through a small aperture and their reception on a surface. 3. a mental representation; idea; conception. So we either look pretty much like God looks (and we'll find out one day -- when we reach that new Heaven and new Earth) OR we mirror God -- or we represent the idea of God. I think it's probably mostly the latter -- but would never limit God in any way, shape, form or face. There's another promise, too -- God will wipe every tear from our eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things will have passed away. Heaven. God's face. Sounds lovely, doesn't it?

So who should we really strive to emulate, anyway? Who the heck is God? If you really want to know, ask your family and friends who worship God. Listen to what they have to say. But for simplicity, I did a websearch and found a rather overall definition on Wikipedia: God usually refers to the single deity in monotheism or the monist deity in pantheism. God is often conceived of as the supernatural creator and overseer of humans and the universe. Theologians have ascribed a variety of attributes to the many different conceptions of God. The most common among these include omniscience (infinite knowledge), omnipotence (unlimited power), omnipresence (present everywhere), omnibenevolence (perfect goodness), divine simplicity, and eternal and necessary existence. No too shabby. Perfect goodness. Wow.

So if I am, indeed, made in God's image, how can I mirror Him tonight? There are two basic imperatives: 1) Love; and 2) Love.

I believe that Jesus is God -- made man -- with us. Jesus said, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself."   ~Matthew 22:35

He never said it was going to be easy.

When people die, the only face-time you have left is through photographs or home movies. Thankfully, we now have sound on our videos; I don't know that I have any recording of my mother's voice anywhere anymore. I can look at pictures and close my eyes and imagine what they looked like -- what their voices sounded like -- what their touch felt like -- but I'll never be face-to-face again with these beloved as long as I remain on this earth. David's face changed a lot the last couple years of his life. One of his last surgeries changed the shape of his face. A medication caused his face to swell. Tying-on his trademark bandana became too painful, so he simply looked a little different in a hat or bare-headed on a day-to-day basis. And sometime in the last few weeks of his life, his smile changed -- becoming somewhat crooked, but still endearing. I have some photos of him from those last days with us. He really doesn't resemble himself much, but those are the last images of his face and his spirit. I cherish the pictures -- for myself. They're really not for anybody else.

I keep thinking about my daughter and how she shines so brightly -- and she does so without seeing my face -- she does it all on her own. Some people are just beacons for the rest of us -- showing us the way. I think she's one of those. Like a lighthouse on a rocky shore, the beam of a good flashlight on a dark trail, our wonderful, warm Sun -- casting brilliance where there is darkness. My daughter. All she has to do is smile -- or laugh -- and you're just overtaken by her shininess. This person wanted to see MY face today. I believe that she exhibits God's Kingdom right here on earth. That is a high calling. And what if she has emulated even just a little of my spirit -- of my heart? Could that mean that I sometimes have a little shine myself? Might I mirror God, too? assumed a few of His ways? I hope so. I have been spending a lot of time with Him ...

... It shines because the fireflies are sleeping
And it shines so the stars can find their place
It shines so we know there is a reason
And it shines so i can see your face.       ~ from It Shines, David M. Bailey

( http://www.davidmbailey.com/audio/DAVID_M_BAILEY-It_Shines_hifi.m3u )