Friendship

Friendship.

Has there ever been one word that brings with it a deep gnawing pain and an incredible sense of joy at the same time? Feelings of hurt flood your mind like flashbacks to a veteran who has not been able to wipe the bloodstains of war from his heart. The delight that fills your entire being can be likened to a mother seeing her newborn for the very first time. This one significant word brings you to reality as you face fear and delight straight-on.

Friend. Yes, it is just a simple word, and with it comes an open invitation to vulnerability and shared life. To see light and love in another. This word brings scars that still remain from past wounds out into the open as love draws me through fear.

Trust me, I know that friendship is not for the faint of heart. It takes guts, courage, and vulnerability. True, healthy, God-breathed friendship will break through fear and failure and thrust our entire being into the realm of virtue and healing. It is through these friendships that we are transformed.

This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father. -John 15

In the quiet moments

Road trips. I have a love-hate relationship with them. After traveling for six years with my family of six in a 36’ box (the dealers actually call it an R.V.) that countered as our home for 6 years, I’ve had my share of cross-country adventures on four tires sitting behind the steering wheel or in the passenger seat, map in hand, navigating the highways and interstates for my Dad who was usually preoccupied with talk radio. Over the past few years I’ve opted for the swift destination arrival option which is what I consider one of the most incredible inventions known to man – travel by air.

However, I had the opportunity to visit family over the holiday season and I didn’t want to miss it. Checking my luggage, quickly boarding a plane, reading a book for an hour or so, and arriving at my destination would be ideal. I usually have interesting experiences in airports, which is yet another reason I prefer a bustling crowd where I am free to remain somewhat removed and introverted, content to observe others at a distance. But a lonely car ride where silence is my companion was definitely not appealing. I took the car for this road trip.

Fast forward to last night. I had the privilege of enjoying dinner with someone I haven’t really connected with for several years. As we shared about life’s journey to this point and the experiences we’ve struggled through, our conversation turned to 2013 and remembering the highlights of the year. During our conversation I remembered my road trip this past holiday season and realized that I actually enjoyed the travel time. Something happened that was a true miracle in my eyes. An assured awareness of how deeply I am loved was revealed to me during this trip within the first hour!

How does this relate?
The means that we are led to take throughout our journey in life may differ, we may not like them. We may complain in the moments of silence when challenging questions don’t make sense because we can’t figure out an answer. Even here… we are loved. Life is not about quickness. It’s not about instant gratification where self is center. It is about experiencing love in the unexpected moments with those you would and those you would not necessarily anticipate this possibility. Life is cherishing each moment that love, hope, and freedom break into our complex, busy, event saturated day to day lives.

Here's to cherishing the quiet moments!