09-29-20

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
September 29, 2020
Scripture: Job 6:14 (the Message)
When desperate people give up on God Almighty, their friends, at least, should stick with them.

Thought for the Day: I have received a number of emails and letters from Hyundai recently. My car is going on 18 months old, and they have been contacting me for all kinds of reasons. What’s interesting is they somehow switched my middle name and last name. So everything is addressed to Bruce David, yet on the cover of the letter and in the subject line of the email it is usually BRUCE DAVID, all caps. Technically, that is yelling! One note even said, “You’re behind BRUCE DAVID!” And the only person, before this, who ever shouted BRUCE DAVID was my mother. I give her full permission to do so as I know she has my best interest in mind. Friendship (and family) requires a lot of permission-giving, but it also demands self-awareness, specifically in regard to boundaries. It is entirely ok to make a choice in regard to who has permission. It has a lot to do with trust, and knowing the person has your best interest in mind. It is ok to let someone know, who definitely has ulterior motives, how they do not have permission to give their opinion on your life. And if by chance they do, you have the right to give yourself permission to ignore what the person is saying. Now it is dangerous to surround yourself with those who have permission to speak their mind if you know in advance they will only praise you. It is better to have a trusted friend who will stick with you, while also telling you the truth when it needs to be spoken.

Prayer: Provide me a few trusted friends, Lord God, who love me enough to tell me what no one else will say. Amen.

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