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from Cossondra When I was in high school, there was no such thing as social media. Friends and classmates didn't stay in touch on the Internet (because there wasn’t one). We got together in person to catch up. On a summer Saturday before the opening of school, you might have found us gathering together and sharing what we had been doing during the summer. You would find us in various houses, eating junk food and taking over kitchen tables and living rooms. We would recount stories about meeting girlfriends and boyfriends, dream about vacations to come, and laugh at ridiculous jokes. Although we didn't recognize it then, the time was dynamic and the connections active. We called other friends on the phone and gathered around so we could all talk at once. If that weren't enough, we would roam the roads, heading to more buddies and more conversations. We laughed as we sang our favorite songs and quoted the coolest pop stars. We shared drinks and food without a second thought because nobody would get sick. Ever. I've been friends with my high school classmates for the greatest part of my life, known most of them since I was five years old. We enjoy a connection, and nurtured connections can survive for lifetimes. I recently got together with this group of people, and we did the same things we had done 35 years ago -- although there were some changes. We still quoted pop stars, but some of the coolest we quoted are dead. Our conversations often circled to aches and weird things our bodies do. We recommended doctors and pain relief to each other. I might have actually said, “I love a lidocaine patch.” But we ate and talked and laughed like we used to do. And, most importantly, now we are better at recognizing the importance of being together, of nurturing the connection. The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense. Proverbs 27:9
In one of the kitchens we took over recently, a sign reads, "Your second life begins when you realize you have only one." What a valid statement. Regrettably, many of us don't recognize this truth until we face difficult situations like a terminal illness or the death of a loved one. My friends and I are experienced enough now to realize. We have faced cancer, heart attacks, the loss of parents, and so many other life-altering events. We used to wonder what adulthood would bring, but now we have experienced it. And going forward, we are choosing to be dynamic in our relationships. We are going to get together again. Soon. And when we do, it won't be just us. It won't even be our extended friend group. We are going to extend it to friends' friend groups. The more, the merrier. As one of my classmates told the last gathering, we should always have extra love -- love to share. Doesn’t that sound a lot like Jesus? Jesus possessed more love than any of us. Because of that extra love, He shared His blood, His Holy Spirit, and His very life. That, friend, is dynamic. His love was active, just like the Word of God. I encourage you to give yourself a checkup. Is your love dynamic? Are your essential relationships active? How about your relationship with God? When was the last time you and He merely talked? If it has been a while, order a pizza and hang out with Him. Describe your dreams to Him, reminisce about important events, and laugh. Travel the roads together and drink in His presence. You will not regret choosing to pursue a dynamic relationship with your Savior.
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