I had a late night out with some of my dear friends. I love them all. We have some strange times, some fun times, some not-so-fun times, but in the end I’m always reminded that the Lord is working in us all and that He has wrapped us together with cords of peace. May it last forever.
The phrase “I miss you” is a difficult thing for me. When I’m in Annapolis, I generally don’t miss people from Bath, and neither the other way. Maybe it’s something I’ve convinced myself to reject. (I am picky about my words.) I have no trouble admitting that I have a longing for certain people at certain times, especially if I’m reminded of them by some circumstance or if they’ve asked me to pray for them from afar; but it’s nothing that cannot be expressed in prayer. I simply don’t miss people. When I took the time tonight to think about the phrase and why I don’t like it, I realized where it derives its meaning: when a person is searching for another but does not find him, he says, “I missed him,” and after this continues the phrase becomes progressive and present—”I miss him.” But this is not the case. I don’t miss my friends. Because when I search for them, I find them. That doesn’t mean they’re always next to me, and sometimes it requires days of trying to contact one of them by phone because we have conflicting schedules. But even in the times when they’re not present, I already have them. Thus it is with the friendships that God has given me.
I’m using this little discourse to remind myself of the power of prayer in friendships. This is something I need to continue in with diligence. I ask the Lord for mercy and grace here, because I desire to show them mercy and grace even from afar. May the Spirit keep this conviction on my heart.
I don’t want to miss people. As Paul wrote, I want to be with them “in spirit” (Colossians 2:5 etc.). I need to actively pursue this in my friendships, while accepting any longing I feel as a blessing that spurs me on to prayer and more rejoicing when we finally do meet again, whenever God wills.
That’s a fluffy sentiment to leave on. Oh well. Tonight I’ll sleep for a few hours. Tomorrow, my father has offered to drive me to Bernville, PA, to visit the Bajus family (which, because of increasing population, may soon be justifiably called a “clan” or “tribe”). I’ll be working at Christian Missionary Technical Service, where they live and work, for a week before school starts again on 19 March. I keep telling myself I’ll do a little bit of reading and such, but if I don’t I don’t. I know I’ll have the necessary assignments done, but I didn’t work on my Freshman Essay at all or read Antigone again. It’s not a problem. The work I’m doing now is really work to keep me ahead of schedule anyway, so falling behind isn’t such a terrible loss. I’m not stressed. God is good, and His love endures forever.
I probably won’t blog while I’m there without being really inspired to write in the evenings. It’s possible, even likely, but not guaranteed. I love y’all. Thanks for praying. Shalom.
The phrase “I miss you” is a difficult thing for me. When I’m in Annapolis, I generally don’t miss people from Bath, and neither the other way. Maybe it’s something I’ve convinced myself to reject. (I am picky about my words.) I have no trouble admitting that I have a longing for certain people at certain times, especially if I’m reminded of them by some circumstance or if they’ve asked me to pray for them from afar; but it’s nothing that cannot be expressed in prayer. I simply don’t miss people. When I took the time tonight to think about the phrase and why I don’t like it, I realized where it derives its meaning: when a person is searching for another but does not find him, he says, “I missed him,” and after this continues the phrase becomes progressive and present—”I miss him.” But this is not the case. I don’t miss my friends. Because when I search for them, I find them. That doesn’t mean they’re always next to me, and sometimes it requires days of trying to contact one of them by phone because we have conflicting schedules. But even in the times when they’re not present, I already have them. Thus it is with the friendships that God has given me.
I’m using this little discourse to remind myself of the power of prayer in friendships. This is something I need to continue in with diligence. I ask the Lord for mercy and grace here, because I desire to show them mercy and grace even from afar. May the Spirit keep this conviction on my heart.
I don’t want to miss people. As Paul wrote, I want to be with them “in spirit” (Colossians 2:5 etc.). I need to actively pursue this in my friendships, while accepting any longing I feel as a blessing that spurs me on to prayer and more rejoicing when we finally do meet again, whenever God wills.
That’s a fluffy sentiment to leave on. Oh well. Tonight I’ll sleep for a few hours. Tomorrow, my father has offered to drive me to Bernville, PA, to visit the Bajus family (which, because of increasing population, may soon be justifiably called a “clan” or “tribe”). I’ll be working at Christian Missionary Technical Service, where they live and work, for a week before school starts again on 19 March. I keep telling myself I’ll do a little bit of reading and such, but if I don’t I don’t. I know I’ll have the necessary assignments done, but I didn’t work on my Freshman Essay at all or read Antigone again. It’s not a problem. The work I’m doing now is really work to keep me ahead of schedule anyway, so falling behind isn’t such a terrible loss. I’m not stressed. God is good, and His love endures forever.
I probably won’t blog while I’m there without being really inspired to write in the evenings. It’s possible, even likely, but not guaranteed. I love y’all. Thanks for praying. Shalom.
1 comment:
Phil,
I really appreciate your post. I have always missed people I love when not with them, and never considered that closeness with them in " spirit."
So, thanks :)
I hope you have a great stay with the Bajus family, and hopefully I'll get to talk to you soon.
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