ever thought you were a part of something....i mean REALLY a part of something, only to find out that reality was much different then you thought? sometimes we just perceive our "in-ness" a little stronger than it is....but i think sometimes...we are actually in...and then get put out. how come?
i've got to say, i'm pretty sure i've been the one thrown out AND the one that has thrown people out in the past. doesn't that sound sad and mean all at the same time? it's kind of like laughing as a giant wave crashes down on an unobservant friend, only to find yourself drenched with the next offering from the ocean. you were too busy laughing at your friends calamity to notice your impending wetness.
i think reality is that we are all fickle, fragile, inclusive, protective, self-centered people. and sometimes that range of character flaws come crashing together in some kind of emotional log jam that the giver or the receiver can't quite navigate through.
so what do we do? if we've all got this propensity to insensitivity (look out)....how do we respond? i think the only prudent thing we can do...is offer grace. we've all been there...we will be there again...and at the end of the day...true friendship is worth so much more then any type of short term satisfaction that we might get from lashing out or unforgiveness. grace. we can all give a little...
take care...
20 comments:
Great post Jeramy. Why do we find it so easy to accept grace and then find it so hard to offer later? I am grateful for God's grace and know I am unworthy. Thank you for reminding me how precious a gift He has given me in my friends. We really miss you guys. Wish we were still there, but God has a plan and we are committed to put our desires aside and see it through.
It is always easier to show grace to people that we really like or that like the same things that we do. The ones that are always glad to play the games we want to play. But what about the person that is the nails on the chalk board person? To God, all of us humans in our selfish ways are the nails on the chalkboard person, yet his love and grace were so great that his blood covered it all. As we walk thru life and strive to be more like him, we must try to share his grace with others as he has so freely shown to us.Wouldn't it be nice, if we all loved each other and spread God's grace enough that we never had to wonder if we were on the "In or the Out".
This is a great post! I was just talking with my pastors last night about this very thing and was reminded of Philippians 4:6-9.It is much easier to recieve grace than to give it; but if allow God the control and try our best to focus on the positive with a heart of gratitude He can change our hearts to see others hearts and not their flesh. A leason I am now learning.
I think we all feel this way sometimes, and those of us who love to be in the middle of things probably feel it more than others. Like you said... it's no fun being the one left out, but when we see ourselves truthfully and know that we also can be the one to leave others out (whether we do it on purpose or not) giving grace becomes so much easier.
All of us who are willing to be part of relationships get hurt but life with out them is pretty sad too!!! (Trust me, I know this first hand!!!!!)
have you been kicked out? Is that why you jumped off the bridge?
I can only take this post really light-harded as I once again think this is targeting a certain "people". But hey atleast you just helped me eaze my way into our next Tozer assignment! Thanks DUDE!!!
Jeramy Sossaman....I am soooooo not taking you serious ever, EVER again....
I don't understand the stuff about not taking you serious. Am I not supposed to be taking this seriously? It strikes me as serious. I was just going to leave a comment saying, "Amen to that!" but all these other comments are confusing me.
Seriously, I'm not being sarcastic, I'm very confused.
And I love your mom's term, "the nails on the chalk board person"!
I'm sorry
sometimes i feel so out of the loop on your blog! i take your posts as serious, then reading the comments and remembering your sarcasm I wonder if I'm missing the mark? Help me out here, am I taking you too seriously?!
Hey guys....my hint is the category that the post is in. If it says "fun"....it's usually light hearted. If it says "reflection"....it's serious. Just a heads up.
natalie / cheryl....
this wasn't about any situation, or person in particular. i just thought it was something we could all relate too.
Sorry to think your post was less than genuine -- there was certainly a lot of wisdom dished out the subject!
(I love your moms comments - no wonder you turned out to be such a good guy!)
And Chelle... who's that?.. is that the person who went sightseeing with Sharon?....
no worries cheryl. i know it's tough to know were the line is with me sometimes.... :-) i know that.
Thanks for clearing up my confusion. I was going to be really irritated with Jeramy if this wasn't for real, because it's such good stuff!
I think I said something along these lines on an earlier, similar post from Jeramy, but for me it's always easier to dole out grace when I take a look at myself and how I've screwed up and how much I need grace myself!
I love it. I do. Sharon, GREAT tip! (: I enjoy setting up all this doubt on your blog...
Did anyone catch that "Chelle" said sorry??? Hmmm... What's that about?
Did anyone catch that "Chelle" said sorry??? Hmmm... What's that about?
Yes Natalie, I caught it but the thing is, Chelle is always sorry, and sometimes she apologizes!
Ha ha ha ha
And Jeramy, you know I think you are my favorite after all!
NATALIE! It is not nice to screw with a medicated girl!
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