Frienships and what binds us all together

There is a need for everyone to interact, to be united through the simplest and most trivial of reasons. In the film 'Before Sunrise' (yes, I watched the show ;p), all it took to get 2 people talking was an exchange of their shared observations at a couple who was quarreling. The World Cup joins people from various races, from all walks of life... though I must add that the World Cup is NOT a trivial reason for bonding :p Anyway, emerging from this great need for social and emotional support then comes BOTH great pleasure and great distress.

Perhaps one of the greatest joys in life is to watch the sunrise with a close friend beside you. On the flip side is the acute pain of knowing that a frienship can never return to the way it once was. Friendships that were as solid as a rock can, through a touchy situation, turn into something as fragile as a flower petal. Hours and hours of thinking, of deliberation, of tears are spent into handling our friendships and relationships.

Recently, due to my insensitivity, I put a strain on a close friendship. There was an awkward moment and I was well... lost for words. However, the honesty displayed and the openess in sharing was key in putting things right again. And I would dare say, what was a tense time turned out to strengthen the friendship. And more importantly, the reason that we were willing to talk things through was centred on Christ. The bedrock of our friendship was probably the need for righteous living and to carry on in this life as partners of the gospel, as fellow ministers of the Word.

God is indeed wonderful. I take a quote from Chris Chia when he says that God "specialises" in the 'reversal of fortunes'. What is built upon man's "wisdom" is taken down and built upon the foundation of God Himself. He turns our mistakes and misjudements into life-learning lessons. And more often than not, we learn the most through the things we've done wrong.

Good Christian friends are hard to come by. And to me, this is something in life worth taking time and effort for. I rejoice when God is the centre of our relationships and that Christ-likeness is the goal we're all supporting one another for :)

Ending of with Rom 12:9-13. In the paragraph of the NIV, it says "love". In the ESV, it says "Marks of the true Christian". Whatever the case, it was a good reminder of genuine love, shown to others through the love of Christ :)

"[9]Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. [10]Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. [11]Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. [12]Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. [13]Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality."

Rom 12:9-13 (ESV)