friends

i played the follow-the-links-from-the-comments game...found some wise words on friendship. also found that i am not alone feeling lonely and yearning for real friendships. learned that it can happen in all seasons.

i'd heard some great teaching on friendship a couple years back. what i took away from that: i can only affect what i do, so i try to be the kind of friend i want to have. i focus on the most important friendship--with God, and let that transform me, let that refine my character.

years ago, i had someone tell me they would be my friend if i played by certain rules---accepted all their choices, didn't ask questions that made them uncomfortable, talked only about the "safe" topics. i knew then--that is NOT a friendship. i really didn't pursue it , but i mourned the loss of potential, maybe i mourned the friendship that never really existed. i vowed to be a real friend to those who were in my life. i'm still working on what that looks like.

i see scripture tell me "iron sharpens iron" and then i see "love covers a multitude of sins." i am learning when to cut and when to cover. it comes down to my motives a lot of the time. if it's about proving my point or winning an argument, then i am not walking in the spirit. i have also learned that covering is always the best choice because if God moves me to act and say something, then i can. i cannot however, take back words that were spoken in haste or at the wrong time. i want my words to be aptly spoken. i want my words to mean something. if i say too much, then when i say something important, how will anyone know the difference?

i wonder how that applies to this blog. am i devaluing my words? i once described this blog as my "soap box." i don't think that's a good thing. i don't want to be spewing out unsolicited opinions. there are blogs out there that i enjoy reading--what is their motivation? maybe i should be asking them, huh?