I was thinking earlier today about friendships and how many times it seems like it takes so much work, sometimes to go almost nowhere at all. Along with trying to sort through everyone’s schedules to find some time to connect one might wonder if all of this work seems kinda in vain. Sometimes I wonder if the people on the other side are toying with me, playing some sort of game. That does seem rather cruel and probably not even likely but still slithers in there as a doubt that rises up every now and then. Maybe they are going through their list of other friends, ones they would rather hang out with before they contact me because everyone else is busy. Then the darkest thought, the one that we bury really deep-down is the thought that all the juggling is a mirage, that the truth is that they are either too busy or not that interested in hanging out with us.
I think the reason I hide from this last one is because it means we are being rejected, sure sometimes personalities don’t work but I don’t think most people give others enough tries or enough time to truly see what is under the cover of the book (or hood for those car enthusiast out there). Sometimes people judge others based on the trailer when the movie is so much better and longer. Sure it takes longer to get to the good parts and the sad parts seem long, but the story has depth and age and is real because it is not something summed up in a snap of your fingers, real life is hard and sometimes dirty and the best we can do is to put in the work and hope maybe, just maybe we will find long-lasting and genuine friends, friendships not based on distance or even a lot of commonalities but based on the fact that we know one another and have some sort of history with one another - ones that last a long time instead of just dying after one fight, one awkward moment, or distance when one moves.
The thing for me is I am inclined to be more introverted than extroverted, so for me to reach out takes a lot of work and after so many times if I feel I am getting the run-around I will just stop, it becomes too much work emotionally for me to try to carry the friendship on my back, to always be the one to initiate conversations or get-togethers.. I feel if the person really cared they would put some effort in the friendship pot as well... I think reciprocal friendships are the best. You know, the kind where if a friend is busy they tell you we will meet up next week or they call you to see what’s up... the kind of friends who will drop things and try to have time with you, even if it is only for a little while at least, because a little is better than nothing at all. I tire of the friends who are only friends on their own terms: when they want to hang out, when they are bored, when they have nothing better to do, and randomly contact you out of the blue and start up like old friends again. I am still nice and cordial but there is almost a fakeness to those friends, maybe something deeper below the surface that you cant see, maybe something they haven’t dealt with themselves.
All of this got me thinking about my relationship with Christ and how he is always there for me when I need him... and how often I am not there for Him. People think devoted Christians (or ministers and priests) always have quiet times reading the bible and praying but this is not always true. I find in my life I go through flows of being constantly in-tune with God and in his word and praying and then other times where that part of my life for some reason goes completely silent, it becomes empty, and I am reminded of a friend I have been forgetting.
God is always there for us, as if he has a table set every time at every moment and is waiting for us to come to Him, to come before the feet of the Creator of the world. Like a Father he just wants to know what is going on in our lives and like a friend he wants us to know he will always be there for us. The problem is we are always calling God (or texting Him) again and saying, “I have other things to do, I am busy, I will get back to you once I finish a paper, once I study for a test, when I am not so tired, when I am not hanging out with other people, when I am done with his show or movie or concert or dinner.” We have tons of excuses, the same ones we give and get from others all the time; the ones that frustrate us the most… only we set these before God. Can you imagine the look on his face as he reads the message? How should he respond: Should he text you that it is “ok”, “hopefully we can get together soon then”, or maybe silence is better... maybe just his action of daily availability should be enough to show us how much He cares - and how very little we seem to care.
Remember this, never forget this - with God you need No Reservations. You do not have to ask Him if He is available, there is no need to worry about rejection, for God is always there waiting.. and waiting.. waiting for us to finally come to Him, to finally change our life and habits, to rid self of these sinful and evil things and sit with him a while and feel the peace that comes with being in the light of his glory and grace, to be reminded in that time of his Son who died for our sins, and help us put life in the right perspective once again.
~ Daniel
MORE: Table for two story and study
http://nashpublications.com/biblestudies/QuietTime.pdf
Pic:
http://www.stephenbergstrom.com/images/Table-for-Two-detail.jpg
