still craving connections

Joel and I went to a fair-type gathering this afternoon by one of the churches in Bangor. I had hoped to meet up with a few other pastors in town, and once again make some friends here. Once again, I felt kind of blown off by the other guys. It's hard being a newbie. It wasn't anything that was said or not said.
They shook my hand, they smiled, I could see that Jesus was real to them, but I didn't seem to phase on their people radar at all. I don't know what I was hoping for. For someone to see me. For them to see into me and connect instantly with me.

I hunger for connection. I think we all do. But I need to keep reminding myself that connection at that level only happens once or twice in a lifetime. I think sometimes we put too much weight on a single meeting. I've visited other churches before, and appreciated the different ways they express their devotion to God, but in times where I've been specifically seeking to connect, especially on a deeper spiritual level, I've often left wanting.
I don't doubt the power of God, or the power of prayer, but something about coming into a place only once and expecting some kind of life-transforming quick-fix just isn't going to happen. Maybe it's because I put too much pressure on the pastor as the 'messenger of God' and less on him as a person. Or maybe it's the other way around....I test what is being said and argue it in my head, so that automatically, whatever comes out it won't be enough. It's hard to trust a truth if you've never experienced it in your own life. But just because you haven't experienced it doesn't make it not true.

CS Lewis talks about the body craving what it needs; we crave water and food because we need it to survive. We crave connection, because we were created to be in community.
The thing is, I HAVE experienced true moments with the LORD. I HAVE experienced a community completely sold out to re-learning what it is to follow Christ, going back to the most basic, primary colors of their faith. The difference was time together. Intimacy with another person requires time and effort and attention. Intimacy with God requires the same. If you're going for intimacy, you've got to be willing to put in the time. It also requires humility, and trust.

Note to self: working on the trust thing will probably help make the time thing more enjoyable!