The BLESSING of Friendship!!!

Prepare yourselves, this is a blog born out of a whole lot of sentimentalism. A huge misconception about the World Race it that it is a year full of all good things, constant joy, and exciting experiences. While this has been a year of those things as well, it has also been a year full of hard things. Experiencing both together are what make this community so sweet. The design of people is to be in the trenches together as much as we dwell in the mountaintops.

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.” (Psalm 133:1)

These are people that have danced with me everywhere and make fun of my dance moves. I love dancing with these friends. These are people I share clothes and food and money and toilet paper with. These are people that have grabbed my shoulders and stopped me when I’m crying, can’t stop pacing, and vice versa. These are people who I have weeped with and prayed with. We are people that have cleaned up each others vomit (foreign food be whack) and shared migraine medicine with. They are people that know every article of clothing I own and don’t get mad when I accidently stain theirs. To describe the at times very odd life of the last 9 months is kind of hard to put into words.

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:12-13)

Anyone at home that talked with me last year through my processing thoughts of leaving the States knows that I had kind of a silly reason for almost not coming on the race. That reason was that 2 years ago when I signed up, I knew I was going to fall in love with all the people I’d be doing life with and leaving them come November was going to tear my heart up. What a silly reason to not do something, out of a fear of loving too much!

It turns out I was right.  I serve a God of abundance, and the friendships we’ve cultivated in the last 9 months are some deep, and raw, and authentic gifts that exceeded my expectations. Currently I am at our second to last debrief of the race, in Durres, Albania.

Debrief on the race, is about a week where our entire squad comes together and just enjoys life and fellowship together between times when our individual teams are split up around whatever country we are in. Particularly during this debrief, I’ve just been floored by the quality and authenticity, and goodness of the people around me. The goodness of our God!!!

You can ask any one of my friends, all week I’ve been running around, squeezing my friends hard and telling them that “they are an absolute delight!!” *cue my high pitched voice and cheesy smile.* I literally could not mean a statement more. These people love me well! And I love them a LOT.

Something that has become apparent to me is that I am 23 years old and when I look at my life, I’ve been blessed with more authentic friendships than many people ever get to experience in their lives. I could die tomorrow and be completely satisfied with the life I’ve lived. I mean that. I don’t say this to brag, I say this simply with a heart of overflowing gratitude.

Nothing hurts my heart more than someone who has not experienced the beauty of a God centered friendship. I deeply want everyone I know to experience Jesus in this way.

People that know friendship as frequent canceled plans, puddle deep conversations, friendship based solely on proximity, or avoidant discussions don’t know friendship. A friendship centered around Jesus doesn’t have room for falsity or confusion.

“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24)

Friendship is good. It is biblical. My friendship with Jesus is sweet and good, and intimate, and a model for my friendships with people. There is simply a quality of friendship that can only be attained with Jesus at the center. A friendship without Jesus can unfortunately only go to a certain depth.

I’ve been learning a lot about friendship this year and it is beautiful. Friendship is the type of love that I believe has been most devalued by the world. This breaks my heart, because when done well, it can be such a sweet gift. Friendship is the most unselfish of loves. With no commitment of blood or marriage vows, it is also the most voluntary of earthly love.

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17)

This is a topic I get passionate about. God made us to be together! There are certain qualities of Jesus that are brought out in a person when they brush up against a certain friend. I have friends that I love a lot and the qualities of Jesus that are brought out when they spend time with me are different from the qualities of Jesus that are brought out when they spend time with another friend.

By not loving people to your full capacity, you are limiting the amount of Jesus you get to see modeled in the relationships in your life.

So how have I reconciled with the idea of leaving these people, knowing the time is coming in a matter of weeks? Truly it is going to be hard, and truly that is ok. Truly, the love of the Father is the only lasting thing I am promised. That is by far enough, and I desire to constantly be aware that it is enough. Even if I was never given another “good” thing in my life, He would still be good. It’s not about me at all.

Realistically, I have been given some friendships this year that transcend proximity and I know they are going to continue to be fruitful gifts in my life for years to come. What a blessing. Even if not, it is OK.

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13)

I’m learning what it fully looks like to trust the Lord with my future. I’m learning what it looks like to fully love the people in front of me, without abandon, and without the fear of endings. The truth is that every single thing under the sun is fleeting, but the Lord is so so good and so so constant. No one benefits by me giving my love in a half full way.

My sweet friend Paul said this about our team this week: “my hope is that this next two months would not just be a retreat for intentional people.” Woah.

It is easy to be complacent. We already love each other so well, but the beauty of our relationship with Jesus and with all people is that there is always more to have, always room to improve. There is always more of God. My prayer for myself and for all of you is that we would be constantly finding more and more, going deeper and deeper with the One who created us.

Ugh, that WAS sentimental. I’m not sorry in the slightest. I can’t wait for the next two months with these people who I love so much. I can’t wait for the challenge and also the delight of returning home. I can’t wait for life. I want to live in constant expectation of the Lord!!!

Do you trust the Lord with your future? Do you trust the Lord enough to pursue deep and authentic friendships with the people in your life? I’m answering these questions too.

As my current favorite song goes: “LIFE IS A GIFT AND THE GIVER IS GOOD!!!”