For Pete...
Relationships, by the very nature of Christ's example, are painful. True relationships, the ones that MATTER, are built on sacrifice. They require unrequited giving without any promise of return. It is an investment of time, energy and resources with absolutely ZERO interest. It's tiring. And unfortunately, the longer we invest, the longer we exhaust.
Full disclosure: I'm not confident it is always worth it. To quote the late (not dead...) great Boys Like Girls, "Who said that it's better to have loved and lost? I wish that I had never loved at all." Truth is, the times we've loved and lost can seem to overshadow the times in which we've loved and lived. Furthermore, the times we've loved and laughed can't seem to outshine the times we've loved and left.
So, we hide. We build ourselves a nice little wall and go 100% Shrek the Musical on the whole thing. The Big Bright Beautiful World is nowhere to be found and our little swamp is dirty, dark and dank... (But it's oooooooooooours!)
What if God did that? Imagine! Our eternal and all-knowing Father took the ULTIMATE leap of faith and released his grip on the one PERFECT relationship he had. His unceasing love and devotion to and from his perfect son served as collateral and he made the very investment we so often dread. Why? Because unlike myself, He knows it IS worth it. For so many of us, the fear of separation clouds most of our ability to let others in. God, on the other hand, knew that love and loss was the only way to get us back.
The fear of separation is real. God get's that. Jesus lived in that reality everyday. With his 12 best friends in tow, Jesus set forth to CHANGE the WORLD, fully aware that these people he chose to love and trust would deny and betray him. Fully aware of the circumstances, He took Judas and many others by the hand and loved them while He could.
I think that's it guys.... I think we LOVE while we can. For a season, for a lifetime, or anytime in between. The Lord chooses to intersect our lives at a PRECISE moment, interjecting with another one of his beloved. And we live and laugh and love... and sometimes we lose... and sometimes people leave...
But let's TRY and take heart in knowing these encounters and seasons are placed by a God who not only yearns for COMmunion, but REunion. We're not meant to be separated from the ones we love, not from each other and CERTAINLY not from our Father. So as we walk through this time "before the eternity," let's store up hugs and jokes and long talks and late nights. These are the treasures. Let's not only risk the PAIN, let's welcome it. Because, that pain reminds us we were never meant to be separated from those that love us, and we'll be together again.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I know this is unlike most of my posts on this blog. Aside from the musical theatre reference, there isn't much theatrical about it. But, I was blessed to speak at the Celebration of Life for my friend, Pete. Some people asked me to share these words again so I thought this would be the best place to do so.
