Being found in each other (Dallas – Part 3)
I had another great time tonight. I’m not sure how many Tuesdays it has been, but I’m meeting more and more people. Not only am I meeting people, I am liking the people I am meeting. This might be too strong of a word, but not only am I liking them, I am loving them. When I say that I am loving them, I mean that even though I hardly know them, I’m already starting to deeply care about them.
I am noticing them carefully. There is the one girl who is prettier than she realizes and the guy with the quiet strength. There is the deceptively kind one and the funny one and the pairs of best friends. Everyone has something to offer.
I find myself wanting to know more about people. I want to know what their favorite color is and what makes them mad and what it is they like about the music they listen to. I want to know what their favorite memory is and who they miss the most and what dreams they had that were shattered. I want to know them because I want to learn from them. I want to learn from them in order to learn about the world. I want to learn about the world in order to know God better. I want to know God better because there is no greater thing than to be found in Him.
I found myself trying to peek at the journal of the girl in front of me. If I knew her secrets and she knew mine, perhaps we could come to the realization that we are very much alike and each in need of the other’s love. My old pastor used to say, “Everybody has a story and until you understand that story, you can’t understand that person.” If we knew more about what others have gone through, perhaps compassion would be the natural response.
There is a seemingly random group of people, whose lives and stories have intersected. It is a time of great discovery and I should think that I am making friends that I will have my entire life. I want to know everyone’s story in order to help me with my own. I want more knowledge and more beauty and more truth and the ability to love once again. I want to know the God who breaks and then enlarges and ultimately satisfies my aching heart.
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. – Psalm 42:1
Category: Musings
This is such an incredibly inspiring blog. Thinking back to when I first moved – I don’t think I had such a selfless attitude about making friends or wanting to be part of people lives for the purpose of growing compassion and ultimately loving them. However, that is absolutely what we are called to do. I especially love the last line “I want to know the God who breaks and then enlarges and ultimately satisfies my aching heart.” It usually happens in that order too. 🙂 Keep up the blog – I love reading your sweet thoughts.