Friends, fellowship, family, and faith; oh my, they are so good!
My calendar for October is full. Notes dot the schedule page with appointments, time with friends, high school reunions, birthdays, and more!
Autumn is a lovely season. With the subtle beginnings of temperature change come vivid foliage colors. The cool, dry fall air makes it the perfect season to enjoy the outdoors and spend time with friends and family. It is also ideal for reflecting on my faith journey and renewing my commitment to Jesus Christ. As I negotiate various seasons of life, whether excellent or challenging, my faith in my Savior always brings me overwhelming joy.
Friends
A small group of friends gathered for dinner the night before our class reunion. My gaze drifted slowly around the table of high school classmates, pausing to allow the moment to sink in quietly. As some say, “it had been a minute” since we were together. Each face, though dearly familiar, is somehow strangely unfamiliar.
How could forty-five years have passed since our high school adventures? The decades brought everyone good times and bad. In every case, each friend’s sweet spirit remains primarily unchanged. The bond of our friendship remains strong despite the absence of regular fellowship. I looked around, and my heart smiled. The years have been good. So good.
“…a sweet friendship refreshes the soul.” Proverbs 27:9 MSG
Fellowship
The next day would bring us to fellowship with the larger circle of high school classmates. While we were happy to reconnect, the passage of time has taken its toll on all of us. Seventeen framed photos represented friends who had already completed their earthly journey. The reality of our current position on life’s timeline on this side of eternity is evident. Perhaps that is why no one wasted time or energy on comparisons and accomplishments. We are past the time in our lives when we put too much stock on those things. Everyone was authentic and comfortable just being themselves. We embraced the joy of the moment. This time was also good; so good.
Family
Next on my calendar is a big extended family shindig on the family farm. I won’t be available to attend, but I will sure miss it. Being part of a large and fun family is a blessing. As the years have passed, our time together has dwindled to once a year. Still, it is an absolute joy to get together. We share more than DNA; we share life and love.
It is always fun to reminisce. There will be tall tales and funny stories that no one can make up. When we get together, we laugh; hard, loud, and often as we embrace every blessing of the day. It will be good -it always is!
Faith
Human beings are complex. We are both fragile and robust, simultaneously independent and dependent. We need friends and family who love us unconditionally and walk us through life. The people you consider “your people” are a treasure to be cherished. More importantly, we need constant fellowship with our best friend and closest family member, Jesus Christ.
I recently saw a meme titled “Humpty Dumpty had a Great Fall.” The comic provided a funny new perspective for me. It depicted the adorable egg man, Humpty Dumpty, enjoying various autumn activities: taking a walk in the crisp autumn air, carving a pumpkin, etc. The positive spin from falling off a wall to loving the autumn season begs me to check my perspective. I want to embrace every season of my life, living as close to Jesus as possible so that I can declare that season “so good!”
Aren’t we all a bit like Humpty Dumpty? We are more fragile than we like to admit. Sometimes life brings situations that give us hard blows, threatening to crack our secure exterior and expose our souls’ soft spots. We learn to embrace our seasons when we are secure in Jesus Christ, trusting Him to keep us safe in His strong hands. Our most important relationship is the one that comes from faith in God’s Son, Jesus. With him, we can confidently declare, “it’s all good. It is so, so good!”
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 ESV
Charlene Miller
Lean into Jesus Ministries
#charlenemillerblogs