friendship

Last week my truth to meditate on was, " I am Christ's friend"

This picture is from a couple years ago and reminds me of a time with a good good friend. We fixed a toilet, painted the old one, drew fish at a pet store, took pictures of flowers, thrift store shopped, sang together, dreamed together, told stories and even shared a bed!

The fact that friendship even exists just seems so miraculous to me. Two people, unrelated, would choose to be there and love someone. I was walking home with a classmate the other day and we both agreed that the truth about each one of us is that we are self centered. I feel that with deep conviction, and remember realizing that at my core I was selfish at 13 or 14. Friendship is a picture of heaven because it is all about connection and innocence and sharing and supporting and really loving. I guess where Jesus' act of friendship becomes even more special to me is that friendship is intimate, and for some reason it really hit me that way the first time I read it last week. Jesus really, truly wanted to be close to me. I didn't choose to be friends with him but He chose to be my friend, not because it would be safe for him (quite the opposite) or get him higher up in the popularity scale (quite the opposite!), but He knows I need Him.

" My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other. John 15:12-17

I think being friends with Jesus has been so healing for me. Every encounter makes me laugh. He always gets to the core of things in a gentle, hilarious or loving way. He never neglects to tell me when I'm doing something dumb or dangerous. He doesn't get mad while I'm learning how to be like Him.

I encourage you to do some listening this week with Jesus. Set up the scene. Come ready to listen, and to share what you're feeling and wondering too. You could ask:

- Jesus, are we friends?

- Who am I to you?

- Why do you like being my friend?

Share with Jesus your answers to those questions for him!

And on another note...(Mark 10:27) All things are possible with God!

(I've been saying this in my head over the weeks)