The years I spent as an elementary teacher performing my required playground duty, I was always saddened by the children who lacked a playmate.  The one solitary figure who didn’t seem to have a place to fit, a friend to toss the ball to or race across the playground.  I would inevitably spend my time talking to them during the recess break.  My attempts to connect them with a classmate either ended in success or failed to create a friendship.

Recently, I discovered an invention that I wish had been available years ago: the buddy bench. The bench resides next to the playground.  If you can’t find your friends or don’t know where to play, you sit on the buddy bench and somebody will come and find you.  Within a few minutes, any student sitting on the bench will be approached by a fellow student and asked to play.  I love this!

How many of us want one of those for adults?  You don’t have a friend available to go to the movie - you sit on the buddy bench.  You need a dinner companion - you sit on the buddy bench.  You could meet all kinds of new people this way.  I want to install one in my front yard. 

The more I pondered the image of a bench perched on the grass outside my house I suddenly realized there was already someone sitting on the seat:  Jesus.  He’s waiting for me to come and interact.  He’s my constant cohort.  When I feel lonely, I simply need to find a seat and Jesus will join me.

The difficulty is often times we don’t know how to access His camaraderie.  He desires to be our friend and confident, but we see Him as only a genie in a bottle to grant our requests or the old father we run to when times are difficult.  We fail to envision Him as our buddy eagerly waiting to spend time with us and develop a deep relationship.

So, the next time you yearn for a faithful playmate who can ease your burdens and lift your spirits, go sit on your buddy bench and watch Jesus come running.