Proximity..the low-maintenance friendship..the easy way out?

January 27th, 2012 1 Comment

Isn’t it funny how close you can be with someone and then life, circumstance, or something changes that? Or maybe I’m just a bad friend..I don’t pretend to be really good at it. I’ve even been told before that I’m “not a good friend.” That kinda stinks to hear. But I understand. I’m a low-maintenance friendship guy. I like low drama. And in my current stage of life, it’s hard to get out and do much of anything with anybody. And some people can read that as indifference, or worse, unfriendly.

But I am a big proponent of close friendships. For me, they’ve usually been with people that I’m naturally around all the time. So, more often than not, it has been co-workers or small group members. And those folks can ebb and flow depending on the season of life and my proximity to them.

  • during the school-phase it was classmates
  • during the sports-phase it was team-mates
  • during the college-year it was dorm-mates (yes I said year not years)
  • during the music-years it was band-mates
  • during the party-years it was folks at the parties
  • during the working-years it has been co-workers

I still keep up with folks from all of those time periods..but it’s just harder when you don’t see them all the time. I hate that, because many of those people are still near and dear to my heart..and I would call them a friend to this day.

But the level of friendship we see in 1 Samuel 20 between Jonathan and David is touching. It is so refreshing to read of two men who care so deeply for one another that they make pacts together, embrace each other, weep together, and share deeply and transparently with each other. THIS kind of bond is hard to find and even harder to maintain for a long time.

1 Samuel 20 sounds like a script for a TV mini-series..intrigue..danger..jealousy..love..and hate. And when Jonathan and David part ways, it is quite the tear-jerker. The circumstances and stage of life forces them to say their good-byes.

Good friends are hard to find..and even harder to keep..
Today..like you..I’m thankful for the close friends in my life right now..and for the ones in my past that help mold me and make me into who I am today.

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Hindsight is 20/20, but what’s around the bend?

January 26th, 2012 1 Comment

Looking back it is easy to see how God had a plan for David..

Jonathan, son of Saul, breaks his father’s confidence due to his “strong affection” for David, helps him hide out, and convinces his jealous father NOT to kill David.

Michal, daughter of Saul and wife of David, misleads her father’s troops and sneaks her husband out of the city to safety. Then lies to her father about it.

It seems every page I turn right now in 1 Samuel, David is getting help from family and friends, or dodging spears, or escaping at the last minute. It seems that God has a plan for David..and NOTHING will hinder that plan.

Is David completely aware of what God has in store for him?

I’m sure he doesn’t know that his lineage is the one that will provide us with a Savior..I mean, who can see that far into the future? I bet David was getting tired of NEEDING help, dodging spears, and having his spouse lie for him. But God has a plan for David..whether David is completely aware of it or not.

God has a plan for my life (and YOURS too).

If we can get a little help from our friends, that would be great..but if we don’t..God still has a plan..and when all hope seems lost..or things look grim..I know that He will provide a way out..a way up..my job is to trust and not give up. Not as easy as it sounds. But worth it for the future of mankind. (Big words I know..but really..you don’t have any idea..)

Could you hang in there and believe if you knew it would affect history ten generations from now?

 

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Ever been pulled over and thanked by a police officer for going the speed limit?

January 25th, 2012 No Comments
Obedience need not be rewarded.
Obedience need not be rewarded.
Obedience need not be rewarded.

For some reason this flies in the face of some of my core beliefs and causes immediate tension within me. 

I’m just not sure why yet. 
I need to unpack this more and do some soul searching. 

I mean from how I parent and the gratitude I expect from my kids.. to how I lead others and expect to be lead.. all the way to how I live my life before my Maker, my Master (and maybe even how I judge others lives!) 

This thought is taken from Luke 17: 7-10 ‘obedience need not be rewarded’..and if anything..my response should be of the lowest humility speaking out that I am unworthy and only doing my duty to my Master. Head down not hand out! 

“When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, does his master say, ‘Come in and eat with me’? No, he says, ‘Prepare my meal, put on your apron, and serve me while I eat. Then you can eat later.’ And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not. In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’” (Luke 17:7-10 NLT) 

  • When I go the speed limit I’m never pulled over and thanked by an officer.
  • When I play by the rules no one stops the game to give me an “attaboy” for playing correctly.
  • When I sacrifice to give to others or serve someone in need, there should be no pat on the back or extravagant recognition.

I know I struggle with these things. For whatever reason, whether it be my upbringing, the culture, or my sinful selfishness and envy..I want to be recognized, seen and thanked as doing it right, playing by the rules, giving & serving, etc. And those who don’t play by the rules shouldn’t receive the same thing I do. That wouldn’t be fair. (Ugh. Just re-reading that brings my heart into full view. And it’s not pretty.) 

My prayer today:: 

“God, I am sorry. I am selfish. I want recognition. But it is all about You. You are my Master. I am your servant. I want to quietly do my duty that You have called me and saved me for.  Thank you for your patience and your forgiveness.”

Do you struggle with wanting some kind of recognition for doing what you know you’re supposed to do anyway?

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