Speak life and surround yourself with people who do the same

   I was reading an post by one of my favourite bloggers about how to keep loving God even after people in the church have hurt you. She says that bad people make bad choices but God is still good. And I felt it resonating with so many of the things I've been thinking about this past year and some of the things I'd seen people around me go through. We canonize individuals and raise them onto this pedestal of religious perfection while conveniently forgetting that they are human beings. Human beings fail...human beings are not good. They sure do try to be but the only person who is infallibly good despite all variables is God. People will dissapoint. Maybe not today, not tommorrow but someday. Maybe in a big way or a little way, but somehow. Because people are human, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. So when all is said and done and they dissapoint we take it really hard because in our minds they were supposed to be be perfect.


   So the thing is, pick someone who's dissapointment you can bear. We often build friendships on trivial things: popularity, shared interests, status. And we ignore the things that really matter: character and values. So when the same shallow people stab us in the back we are shocked. I don't know why, but we are. There's a swahili phrase for that: Msiba wa kujitakia. It basically means that you've brought it on yourself. I know it sounds harsh but that's truth. Life can be harsh. It's not one big happy musical. Choices have consequences..even trivial ones like 'who to spend time with'. So many verses in the psalms are dedicated to talking about choosing suitable company because even back then it way clear that those who surround you can make or break you. Have you read Job's story? My point exactly.


   Human beings are social beings and that means that on some level, whether we admit it or not we're constantly looking for approval...mostly from our peers. And that might mean one of two things:

A. Conforming to our peers expectations and ideals so we can fit in.
or
B. Surrounding ourselves with people who's ideals match our own.

The danger with option A is that your peers might try to ridicule you and beat you down if your opinion is contrary to their own. Or you might end up doing the exact opposite of what God expects as you try to fit in. Going against your morals and resenting yourself for it at the end of the day. Like I said, people aren't perfect...so doesn't it make more sense to put your faith in someone who is?


   And to go a step further, why not choose to surround yourself with folks who build you up instead of break you? People who have your best interests at heart. People who'll tell you the truth in love when it comes down to it, without malice and instead of needlessly buffing your ego. People who speak life into you.

   And why not be the kind of person who'd do the same for them? Birds of a feather flock together and at the end of it all you attract what you are. So why not be someone who speaks life and loves their friends unconditionally, just as Christ did.

1st Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Ciao...