We all know what it's like to have someone uprooted from our lives. The pain, the confusion, the instability. Over the last year and a half, I've had several people uprooted from my life. Some of them due to their own actions and others, simply because people are busy beings (myself included).
I don't like it when it happens. Relationships I had hoped would forge lifelong friendships kinda vanish and fade into the distant corners of our memories. Is it painful? You bet! It hurts like hell...especially for someone like me whose love language is Quality Time (yes that came a pretty large surprise to me though it does make sense).
For me, pouring into relationships means everything. And even as I listened to a sermon earlier on relationships focused on singles called "Solo Mojo" (ROFL, gotta love Greg Boyd) I stood in agreement with Boyd on the fact that we as humans are not meant to live life alone. We are meant to live in relationship with others though those relationships will never completely fill us. They weren't designed to. We were designed to be completely filled by God.
Does that mean that our relationships with other humans can't be rewarding? Of course not! One point he made that surprised me a bit was how in the historical and cultural past, friendly relationships inherently provided great intimacy though not erotic intimacy. It wasn't uncommon (and still isn't in some places) to find people highly affectionate without being sexual.
I've always longed for deep intimacy (as well as the other) with the men I've loved. I've even yearned for that intimacy within non romantic relationships. Sometimes I've found it. And it seems that lately, God is pulling people back from being too close to my heart. I don't fully understand that. I do think it means that He is going to guide me in a new direction and I am excited to see where that is and where it leads.
In the meantime, it's lonely but God is filling me. It is my prayer that God will fill my love tank so that it runs over and I can pour it out into others...even when it's not reciprocated. It is also my prayer that for those whom God has uprooted from my life, that they would also find great peace and comfort in the God who truly knows what is best for us. I love you and remember you fondly.
~Peace~
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
Good News/Bad News
Why should it surprise us that we should find good people doing good things in the world? I dunno. But I've been asking myself that question a few times recently as it's become a recurring theme (I don't believe coincidentally) that I keep seeing lately.
Last week when talking with my sister-in-law about a very generous gift that my brother and his family received from a member of their church, I uttered something to the effect of "You see, there still are good people left in the world!" to my sister-in-law.
Yesterday when walking out of the grocery store, I was surprised to hear an elderly woman speak those same words to someone else. Someone who appeared to be a stranger to her. And I was reminded of my own conversation the week before. As I considered those words, it struck me that it shouldn't be such a surprise to see people doing good deeds in the world around us.
Even as I type this blog entry, I'm reminded of several conversations recently that I've had with various friends regarding not being able to watch the news for all the negativity. Why does all the bad news get top spot? I watched a news program one day and out of at least half an hour there were 2 events that I could categorize as good and/or positive. One of them being the weather forecast for that day.
So why is it that we (speaking of myself here too) that we are inundated with stories of hatred, crime, futility? Why do we rarely focus on the things that are praiseworthy, lovely, of good report? Is it easier to think that the world around us is so bad that it's a rare occasion to see or hear of there "still being good people in the world?"
I consider my own thought patterns and realize that, yes it is. The truth is, there have been and always will be good people left in the world, even in the midst of all the turmoil and suffering. I for one, intend to remain focused (at least in theory) on the things that are worthy of proclaiming that are good. The things that are worth repeating and praising God for even as this Thanksgiving holiday approaches. And I do have much to be thankful for. Praise God!
~Linda~
Last week when talking with my sister-in-law about a very generous gift that my brother and his family received from a member of their church, I uttered something to the effect of "You see, there still are good people left in the world!" to my sister-in-law.
Yesterday when walking out of the grocery store, I was surprised to hear an elderly woman speak those same words to someone else. Someone who appeared to be a stranger to her. And I was reminded of my own conversation the week before. As I considered those words, it struck me that it shouldn't be such a surprise to see people doing good deeds in the world around us.
Even as I type this blog entry, I'm reminded of several conversations recently that I've had with various friends regarding not being able to watch the news for all the negativity. Why does all the bad news get top spot? I watched a news program one day and out of at least half an hour there were 2 events that I could categorize as good and/or positive. One of them being the weather forecast for that day.
So why is it that we (speaking of myself here too) that we are inundated with stories of hatred, crime, futility? Why do we rarely focus on the things that are praiseworthy, lovely, of good report? Is it easier to think that the world around us is so bad that it's a rare occasion to see or hear of there "still being good people in the world?"
I consider my own thought patterns and realize that, yes it is. The truth is, there have been and always will be good people left in the world, even in the midst of all the turmoil and suffering. I for one, intend to remain focused (at least in theory) on the things that are worthy of proclaiming that are good. The things that are worth repeating and praising God for even as this Thanksgiving holiday approaches. And I do have much to be thankful for. Praise God!
~Linda~
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About Me
- atti2dchic
- I'm a Christian who questions many of the commonly held beliefs of evangelical Christianity. I don't claim to know it all nor do I expect I ever will. But in a few areas, I have found answers that satisfy my desire to understand. And I continue to hunger and thirst for Him. To know Him and to worship Him in spirit and in truth.