The Blessing of Friendship

I have a friend named Richard. If you live in Charlotte, and especially if you go to Elevation Matthews Campus, you've probably seen him before. He sits between the two gas stations on the corner of Independence and Highway 51. Many would stereotype him poor. He has no home, rarely any food, and no family in sight. My friend and I have had the privilege of buying him Bojangles on the weekend and the greater privilege of getting to know him and sharing in his struggles. 

With the failing economy, Richard lost his job about six months ago. He has since had to downgrade from an apartment, to a trailer, to a tent, and now to an abandoned house. He had to give up his two dogs when he lost his trailer, two of his best friends as any dog owner would know. He is very intelligent and you very well might see him devouring book after book hoping someone will stop with some food. He loves thriller and horror books, Steven King and Dean Koontz being his favorite authors. He can tell you the time based solely on where the shade is and can almost exactly predict the weather. More than anything else, Richard just likes having someone to talk to. You could imagine the same feeling after going day after day in solitude. 

The poor are no longer just another struggling face to me, a common sight in today's world. They have a story, struggles, likes, and interests just like the rest of us. They are an individual made in the image and likeness of God, loved beyond belief. 

Richard is not poor in my eyes. We are the ones who are poor. He is greater in wisdom and overcoming obstacles than most of us. While he may not have many possessions and struggles to just get a meal a day, he is by far richer in ways that we could never understand, like his gratitude and humbleness. In ways that the we are too busy to stop and see, or even care for. 

I began this journey hoping to change other's lives for the better, but the fact is Richard and people like him are changing mine. The homeless are grateful for your food donations, don't get me wrong. But when we settle for just feeding the homeless we miss out on a whole larger blessing, the blessing of friendship. 

Curve Ball

Tomorrow will officially conclude my first week at seminary! I feel like I've learned more this week than I have in my entire life, not just Biblically, but I've learned some key things about life. Here are the two biggest learning curves for me this week: 


1. When you take a step of faith and obey God, things won't always get easier. 

I've known for a while now that my next step was suppose to be seminary, but I always thought that once I got here things would be a breeze because that's were I was called to be. That is about as far fetched from the truth as you can get. First of all, God doesn't grow you as much during the easy times, He grows you intensely in the difficult times. Second, if things were always easy you could lose your trust and reliance in Him. During the first week, I definitely had some "There is no way I can do this" moments, but I realized that yes, I can't, but God can. I've also discovered that this is a time that God wants to grow me and growing isn't always the easiest thing, but it will be the most worthwhile thing in the end. There is no better place to be than in God's will for your life. 

2. While change isn't always easy or comfortable, it is necessary. 

I have to admit, I've always struggled with change. I like routine, the same atmosphere, etc. This is probably been the biggest area of my life where God has matured me. I must say that going from military school to seminary has been a pretty big culture shock. While change can be downright scary and uncomfortable, I've learned that it is a dire necessity for progress in any area of your life. When things, places, or comfort become so routine for you there is no room for growth and without growth the destination God has planned for you will never be reached. Our God is always on the move, therefore we should always be striving forward. Paul states in Philippians 3:13 "I know that I have not yet reached that goal, but there is one thing I always do. Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead." I've had to do a lot of that in the past 6 months and this week has been the finale. I might feel a little out of place right now, but I know God has placed me here for a reason and I choose to believe that the best is yet to come. Don't ever settle for comfort over His kingdom and His plan for your life! 

Things don't always work out as you plan and that's probably a good thing. Embrace the curve balls that God throws you. Allow Him to grow you and always believe the best is yet to come, because it is!