I have all kinds of friends on all kinds of levels. I see them as serving different purposes... believing that God put them in my life for different reasons and different seasons. Likewise, I am in theirs for a reason, and, perhaps, for only a season.
I believe God did some of His best creative work when He created friendship. Not just so we can have somebody to refer to as "my friend"... and if we want to "gain some points," so to speak, we refer to them as my "long-time friend"... and of course all of that is relative. I may have known someone for a year and feel like I've known them all my life. I'm thinking right now of someone I've only known, really known, for a few months, and yet, I honestly consider them a "dear friend."
Of course, there are folks with whom I've been acquainted most of my life... am tickled to see them, hope to see them again, but I can honestly say that life's circumstances haven't called for a close relationship with them on a regular basis. We wouldn't likely sit down and bare our souls to each other, but we would enjoy talking, remembering, and being glad to be in each other's company. We're important to each other. This is good!
All of our acquaintances/friends are important. Let's just be careful to accept them for what they are... realistically. Probably, if we've only seen a person on Facebook, they aren't our best friend. Best friends are the people we call when we're sick and in need of help and comfort. It is important to remember the boundary between reality (people, things, experiences we physically touch, feel, spend time with, etc.) and virtual reality (persona, images, words on a page used to portray an idealized verson of things and people).
Let's not allow social media to blur the differences in our relationship roles. Instead, let's celebrate, with clarity, all those God has allowed to be a part of our little worlds, and thank Him for the opportunity to affect others, however that turns out to be. Afterall, if we find that we're forcing the issue in a perceived relationship, with little or no reciprocation from the other person, chances are pretty great that we've missed God's mark for that person's role in our life. That frustration can turn to obsession which in turn becomes idolatry, but that's a topic for another day.
I believe God did some of His best creative work when He created friendship. Not just so we can have somebody to refer to as "my friend"... and if we want to "gain some points," so to speak, we refer to them as my "long-time friend"... and of course all of that is relative. I may have known someone for a year and feel like I've known them all my life. I'm thinking right now of someone I've only known, really known, for a few months, and yet, I honestly consider them a "dear friend."
Of course, there are folks with whom I've been acquainted most of my life... am tickled to see them, hope to see them again, but I can honestly say that life's circumstances haven't called for a close relationship with them on a regular basis. We wouldn't likely sit down and bare our souls to each other, but we would enjoy talking, remembering, and being glad to be in each other's company. We're important to each other. This is good!
All of our acquaintances/friends are important. Let's just be careful to accept them for what they are... realistically. Probably, if we've only seen a person on Facebook, they aren't our best friend. Best friends are the people we call when we're sick and in need of help and comfort. It is important to remember the boundary between reality (people, things, experiences we physically touch, feel, spend time with, etc.) and virtual reality (persona, images, words on a page used to portray an idealized verson of things and people).
Let's not allow social media to blur the differences in our relationship roles. Instead, let's celebrate, with clarity, all those God has allowed to be a part of our little worlds, and thank Him for the opportunity to affect others, however that turns out to be. Afterall, if we find that we're forcing the issue in a perceived relationship, with little or no reciprocation from the other person, chances are pretty great that we've missed God's mark for that person's role in our life. That frustration can turn to obsession which in turn becomes idolatry, but that's a topic for another day.
This is so true,Ann.. Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, AnnieB.
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