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.