Category: Normal Christian Life

Suspicion

It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them. –Confucius

As I prepare a talk about the value of same-sex friendships for men and women, I have found myself pondering the destructive power of suspicion and betrayal. I think these things destroy whether you are on the receiving end of it or if you are the one harboring it in your soul. I cannot find a scriptural description of love (or any other fruit of the Spirit for that matter) that allows me to close my heart to another–no matter their behavior.

suspicionScripture records that “Jesus entrusted himself to no man” in John 2. However, he did. Although he knew the heart of man, he surrounded himself with disciples who would both deny him and betray him.

I’m challenged today by this wise quote from Confucious above. I’m asking God for a fresh empowering of His Spirit to open my heart in new ways again. Sometimes I do this pretty well, but I’m more than a little convicted by my own preparation for my talk.

In the context of suffering 1 Peter 4:
7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. 8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint. 10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Little Intrusions

She has developed a routine of stepping into our offices to just rest in the peace of the front room away from the busyness of our location and from the threat of every stranger she meets. For me, she was an intrusion. Though I’d like to think I’m always a better person than that, I am also rather introverted and I like to plan my spontaneity (if you know what I mean).

She quotes random truths in a rapid-fire way that is obviously meant to insulate her from the threat that living among mere mortals brings. I struggled to catch the wave of her sharing to begin to understand her. (I prayed for understanding.)

I don’t presume to take on every soul I encounter. (Nobody has energy for everyone!) It became obvious to me that I would befriend her.

We spent the morning together tending to some very necessary business for her life. We filled out forms and navigated businesses and governments. It wasn’t a sacrifice. I was just being friendly.  Oddly, she never changed her way of communicating but I’ve started to “understand” and I’m certain that is God’s help. I could hear what this woman was saying.  She is tender. We talked about friends and foes and concerns and there was NO DIFFERENCE in the kind of conversation I had with this lady than those I have with all my closest friends. (Perhaps, I didn’t share, but the topics were very similar.)

I really never welcome intrusions. I will inwardly roll my eyes a little…sigh a little…grouse a little. Still, in the little intrusions there can be beauty. I saw her face relax. I saw her worries reduced. She giggled. She joked.