Friendship

This weekend, I saw something quite spectacular.  A story of struggle and of victory.  And in each victory, there is always the hand of friendship that extends to life one up at the point where it is needed most.

In my life, I had faced a crossroads.  One of dropping out of school, when a teacher went above and beyond to help me on my journey.  And a few friends who encouraged me to visit this teacher.

Friendship.  When life brings you to your knees as it has a way of doing, a friend is always there to help you get back up.

I have struggled with avoiding addiction to pornography, sex, gambling, alcohol.  You name it, I have struggled with it.  And it is always friends that help fight this battle.  We journey together.  We cover each others blind spots.  We do what we can, when we see there is something that needs to be done.  And we don't get bitter or resentful if we realize that for everything we see and do, there is always someone covering us, doing things that we don't even notice.

I used to get mad at homeless people because I thought they should just work hard and contribute.  I thought it was me that did all the work.  I thought I was simply being rewarded for my efforts.  Then, I realized, that I only did 5%.  I only did what was in my control.  The rest, the 95% was done by all the people around me.  The ones who were watching my back when I didn't even notice, didn't even acknowledge, didn't even thank them.

Galatians 6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Ecclesiastes 4 Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed— and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors— and they have no comforter. 2 And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive. 3 But better than both is the one who has never been born, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun. 4 And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. 5 Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves. 6 Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind. 7 Again I saw something meaningless under the sun: 8 There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless— a miserable business! 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. 13 Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning. 14 The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom. 15 I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor.16 There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

To Drink or Not to Drink

I was raised Mormon. Unfortunately, when I was entering high school, my mother decided that if I was not going to enter the Celestial Kingdom, it was no use developing a relationship with me. Before it came to this point, I had some major problems with the religion.

Over time, I developed one fundamental difference. Salvation through works. Versus salvation through grace. My core belief now is that we cannot work our way into heaven. It is only by grace that we are saved. It is then through unfailing love associated with this salvation that we have no choice but to be filled, transformed and sanctified, therefore producing righteousness. As humans, what spills out of us, only mimics what is poured into us. Quite simple.

My hatred for the religion stemmed many debates and internal turmoil. So much so that it caused a lot of wreckage in my own life. Then, one day, I read about the woman at the well. A woman, filled with adultery in her life, is confronted. A woman, who I myself identify with. It is as if, in the midst of my turmoil, I ask, "Which is the truth? What is taught here or what is taught there?" Jesus replies, "Believe me, a time is coming when you will be so lost in your ways it will not matter."

19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” 21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

Those confronted and paralyzed by other's decisions, focused on things outside of their control. Those are destined to be brought to their knees as life has a way of doing. Eventually, I decided that I had enough on my plate to focus on, enough problems and challenges within my own realm, that I no longer had the capability to judge others decisions. Eventually, I found myself reading Jeremiah 35.

35 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord during the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: 2 “Go to the Rekabitefamily and invite them to come to one of the side rooms of the house of the Lord and give them wine to drink.” 3 So I went to get Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, and his brothers and all his sons—the whole family of the Rekabites.4 I brought them into the house of the Lord, into the room of the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah the man of God. It was next to the room of the officials, which was over that of Maaseiah son of Shallum the doorkeeper. 5 Then I set bowls full of wine and some cups before the Rekabites and said to them, “Drink some wine.” 6 But they replied, “We do not drink wine, because our forefather Jehonadab[a] son of Rekab gave us this command: ‘Neither you nor your descendants must ever drink wine. 7 Also you must never build houses, sow seed or plant vineyards; you must never have any of these things, but must always live in tents. Then you will live a long time in the land where you are nomads.’ 8 We have obeyed everything our forefather Jehonadab son of Rekab commanded us. Neither we nor our wives nor our sons and daughters have ever drunk wine 9 or built houses to live in or had vineyards, fields or crops. 10 We have lived in tents and have fully obeyed everything our forefather Jehonadab commanded us. 11 But when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invadedthis land, we said, ‘Come, we must go to Jerusalem to escape the Babylonian[b] and Aramean armies.’ So we have remained in Jerusalem.” 12 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying: 13 “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go and tell the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, ‘Will you not learn a lesson and obey my words?’ declares the Lord. 14 ‘Jehonadab son of Rekab ordered his descendants not to drink wine and this command has been kept. To this day they do not drink wine, because they obey their forefather’s command. But I have spoken to you again and again, yet you have not obeyed me. 15 Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets to you. They said, “Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and reform your actions; do not follow other gods to serve them. Then you will live in the land I have given to you and your ancestors.” But you have not paid attention or listened to me. 16 The descendants of Jehonadab son of Rekab have carried out the command their forefathergave them, but these people have not obeyed me.’ 17 “Therefore this is what the Lord God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Listen! I am going to bring on Judah and on everyone living in Jerusalem every disaster I pronounced against them. I spoke to them, but they did not listen; I called to them, but they did not answer.’” 18 Then Jeremiah said to the family of the Rekabites, “This is what theLord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘You have obeyed the command of your forefather Jehonadab and have followed all his instructions and have done everything he ordered.’ 19 Therefore this is what the LordAlmighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Jehonadab son of Rekab will never fail to have a descendant to serve me.’”

Those who do not know any better. Who simply follow the will of their ancestors. They will be blessed and protected. Even though they do not know the Lord, they are still protected. What else can one do, but the best they know to do? And how many of us don't even do what we know is best to do?