Submit2God

I have an interesting conception of the word friend and what it means. For the longest time I myself did not understand how exactly to express this. Simply understood that I had very few “friends” Though I had a host of acquaintances and I liked and enjoyed a majority of those acquaintances. But I did not call them friends. When a roommate asked me about my curious definition I was unable to explain it clearly. I said something like 

“A friend is someone close enough to me that I would call them at midnight to come pick me up.” 

Even I knew this was not a satisfying definition. Because it was wrong. I know plenty of kind hearted individuals that I could, and would call, and they would gladly help. Yet I would not call them by that sacred term friend. I reserve that name for those I know, and know truly. I know plenty of people, love plenty of people, yet I do not have plenty of friends. 

I stumbled upon the definition my soul had failed to give words to for so long. I met with a student at the troubled teens boarding school I work at. In a long drawn out discussion where I listened to his grievances, noted his attempted manipulation, challenged his fickle nature, and called him to a high standard, I stumbled upon some knowledge. At the end of our time I drew his attention to James, specifically pointing out the man who is tossed about like foam attop the waves, such a man should not expect to receive anything from the lord.  I asked if he thought that also applied to salvation. He answered with a “maybe.” I responded that if it did apply then perhaps he should seriously ask himself the question “ am I saved.”  and he did. His response helped to give form to my definition of a friend. I will not fully declare his response here but the gist of it was “ Because God has answered me in my darkest times, I have seen my sin, I have seen his grace and turn from my sin to Him.” 

When He had finished I saw something new in him. Many of the students make dubious professions of faith, I often find myself doubting those professions. In this student I saw what it was I seek in my true friends. 

A flame, sometimes small, sometimes large, burning in its light and the heat of its flame can be read a word, a sound, a cry. It calls “ Brother” and my soul returns that cry, “ Brother!” In your soul, at your core I find a sameness of purpose, a unity that I find nowhere else. Our minds may be divided, our bodies separated by size, age, distance. Yet our souls are close. They cry out to the living God, declaring his glory, seeking his purpose. 

My truest friends are those who have this flame, the ones of whom I can say, brother I know your heart. Know mine.

Notes

The above image is not the student in this story. It is a picture that expresses total lack of social etiquette of racoons.