The title of this blog post somewhat sounds like something you’d see scrawled across an inspirational poster with two friends of different backgrounds holding hands. My middle school had tons of these types of posters plastered throughout the halls, with catchy sayings about dreaming, striving, and achieving.
I haven’t written much lately because I’ve been away. Also, you’ve heard about the construction, which has stayed relatively stable. Sure, the toilet’s exploded and we’ve finally decided to move the couches out of the kitchen, but other than that, things seem to be following the status quo.
God is keeping me still right now in so many ways. I think it’s because he wants me to really dig deep. So, I’ve been waiting for inspiration on really profound and catchy ideas, expressed with some hip metaphors and quips. No such luck. For some reason I just can’t move past the theme expressed in the title of this blog, which comes from Proverbs 17:17
It’s simple and obvious on the surface, but I think it’s profound when you look at its application on an everyday level. You can say someone is your friend, which is easy to do when you’re having fun and going out and agreeing on everything. But what happens the rest of the time?
I first thought of this when I went home earlier this month, and had the blessing of spending time with old friends who I hadn’t seen in a while. (I hope you know who you are.) I think of how I wasn’t a good friend to them so many times in the past. I remember how I let stress, my own ambitions, high school temperaments, distance, and so many other insignificant things get in the way of truly meaningful relationships. But I’ve seen God’s grace in the way that these amazing people haven’t held this against me and have loved me at all times. It was overwhelming to realize that in so many ways, these relationships haven’t changed in years, despite the weak person that I have been.
In realizing the ways that I have messed things in the past, I am determined to be a friend who loves at all times. This means loving the people I live with. And I think this is going to be incredibly challenging. (No offense to you guys. You are all amazing.) But we have intentionally put ourselves in challenging circumstances. As you can probably tell from my introductory post, we all have very different backgrounds, opinions, passions, and everyday routines. We’re cramming all of those things into one roof on a sliver of a city block. And that roof is currently under physical disarray and probably will be for several more months. Brace yourselves.
To top that off, I can be a selfish, impatient, and anti-social person at times. I try to hide it, but sometimes I don’t want to be around people. Not when I’ve had a long day. Not when they’ve had a long day. Not when the dishes are dirty and we can’t find anything and I don’t have time to run or work out like I used to. Not when I’ve offended someone and he or she has offended me. Like I said, I let stupid insignificant things mount into massive frustration.
REUNION is in the middle of a series about love, especially in the context of married relationships. I’m single, so I’m looking at how I can apply the messages at this point of my life. The series focuses on how love is fueled by action, and not feeling. A key takeaway: when you don’t feel love for someone anymore, you should fix it by loving him or her more. Hard to swallow, right? It’s a simple prescription that requires very intentional and direct action, which can be very tough.
I anticipate there will be times that I won’t feel lovey-dovey about my housing situation. And I think those are the times when I will have to love and serve the others the most. There are times when I will want to sit on the couch and watch Bravo TV (my addiction) and not talk to anyone and not help anyone with what they need. But that’s the time I should pick up a paint roller and join the others in transforming our sunny Californian roommate’s room into a bright yellow-and-orange dwelling that’s sure to cut through the grey New England winters.
Yes, this was a lesson I learned last night, and I am thankful for it. Following said painting adventure, I realized how blessed I am to be around this people. And how community is better than solitude, even when solitude is what you crave. And how tea makes everything better.
No, none of this will be easy. I will certainly have to ask for God’s grace and strength in all of this. I will have to look to Jesus as a model, because no one has ever served or loved like He has. I’m hopeful that in seeking His strength to love and serve and give, I will become closer to Him in the process.
No comments:
Post a Comment