It's All About Relationship #1

It's been almost a year since I stopped blogging. I'm not really sure why other than it just wasn't important enough for me to make the time to do it. Everything you will read in any blog that I write will be about relationship in some way. Why... because I believe that's all that matters to God. Out of a revelation of relationship with Him will come a correct response with others and for all we do in our lives. So to that end I will share the following story for our first of what may become many personal intimate times with God. If your expecting the same old same old or some great teaching you may be disappointed. I am not a scholar nor a great teacher. I am just one person searching after God and I'm willing to share the journey with anyone who is interested. It is not always pretty but it will be honest.

One day, when a young man was a freshman in high school, he saw a kid from his class walking home from school. His name was Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, "why would anyone bring all his books home on a Friday? He must be a real nerd." I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.

As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him. He looked up and I saw a terrible sadness in his eyes. My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him and as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye. As I handed him his glasses, I said, "Those guys are jerks. They really should get lives." He looked at me and said, "Hey thanks!" There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude. I helped him pick up his books and asked where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near me, so I ask him why I had never seen him before. He said he had gone to private school before now. I would have never hung out with a private school kid before. We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool kid. asked him if he wanted to play football with my friends. He said yes. We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him. Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I stopped him and said, "Boy you are really gonna build some serious muscles with this stack of books everyday!" He just laughed and handed me half the books.

Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors, we began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown, and I was going to Duke. I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem. He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for business on a football scholarship.

Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for graduation. I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak. Graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked great. He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school. He filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him. Bot, sometimes I was Jealous. Today was one of those days. I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be great!" He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled. "Thanks," he said. As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began.

"Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach... but mostly your friends. I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story." I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile.

"Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable." I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize it's depth.

What a great illustration. I have lived both sides of that story at various times in my life. I think at that age of my life I would have helped Kyle. As for thinking what Kyle was... it would never have crossed my mind... then. Sadly enough I can recall other times when the reverse would have been my actions.

Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life. For better or for worse. God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way.

Well... you have information and meditation. All that's missing is application. Today I would ask you to purchase or make a card and give it to someome. Trust the Holy Spirit to guide you as to what kind of a card it should be and who it should go to. Then if you will come back and share the experience with others thru this blog.