Saturday, September 06, 2008

Connected...




I have three really best friends... We are connected. A very strong, unbreakable bond exists, and we did not create it. We accepted and welcomed it...

The first is my wife... she is amazing. Even with all of the pain, disability, suffering and loss she experiences so much of the time - she never ceases to amaze me with her positive outlook, determination and hope. She is my very best and closest friend. She brings out the very best in me, although at times, our circumstances have brought out the very worst. She has offered more love, forgiveness, acceptance, grace and understanding than anyone I know. We share so many inside jokes, movie lines and laughs. She is the very best.

The second is my friend - who I will call William, because it is one of his names, and it says so much - Will I Am... He is closer than a brother to me. When I am with him, I am never self-conscious. I am myself at my truest and best. He is one of the very few most trustworthy, accepting and encouraging people I have ever known. We laugh together, cry together, know each other very well, find ways to make time to get together for any reason or no reason at all, or call or text or whatever... if either of us goes a few days without contacting the other, the other one reaches out. He has taught me patience, understanding, peacefulness, resting, healing from deep wounds... he is like salt and light in my life, and we are completely open with each other.

The third is his wife. She is an amazing, graceful, peaceful, insightful, encouraging, positive, kind, gentle, radical, incredible, sometimes firey and always powerful (spiritually) person. Their love for each other and for us has changed us deeply forever. Being able to observe their marriage has encouraged, even provoked, us to move into the same type of deep, everlasting, accepting relationship.

The best of all is when the four of us are able to all get together and talk. Sometimes it's just a hilarious time - laughter, joy, peace, fun - sometimes off color and "irreverant", if there were such a thing... Other times, we have prayed together, shared visions and dreams, shared problems and burdens, supported and loved each other. What Daddy created in these relationships is unlike anything any of us have ever known. Our commitment and loyalty to each other is a bedrock foundation, in the common rock of our Daddy God. We are in keeping relationships with each other - and we encourage and support each other as we all grow, while still keeping us young and pliable -teachable, as children.

As you read this, I pray that you know or will know relationships like this in your own life. May the Lord bring to you those who He intends be in your life. May all resistance and obstacles be removed, and may you be kept in perfect relationship by the love of our Father, as these relationships are inseparably bound to Him as well, in a many stranded cord, strong and unbreakable, true and authentic, safe and secure - Connected...

J/

21 comments:

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

That is awesome that you have such great friends (and a great wife). Even better that you all can share your faith together.

AutoSysGene said...

Your friends sounds wonderful. And sometimes I think having health issues can't help but make a relationship stronger (that is if it doesn't break it).

For probably the first time in my life I have a strong friendship with a group of people and I have to tell you it's absolutely WONDERFUL to know I can rely on these people.

Aren't we incredibly lucky?

shrink on the couch said...

What a wonderful, inspiring tribute to one of the most meaningful human experiences - friendship. You're very blessed, no doubt.

My husb and I have two different couples we feel close to, whom we enjoy and consider good friends. Its not an easy thing to manage, finding the right combination of husb/wife.

I am cultivating a friendship with a female friend right now, I've yet to meet her husband. I am crossing my fingers, hoping he and my husband hit it off as well as she and I have.

Vidal's Nest said...

I have a dear friends who lives in Utah. We moved from there five years ago. We still have that same connection today as we did when we saw each other every day! When we get together now, it is as if we have seen each other every day!
great friends are just like that! I count my husband as my best friend too! I can't imagine a life without him!
I count myself blessed to have them in my life and I can see you are blessed too with these wonderful people!
It's nice to take time to acknowledge those blessings!

Claremont First Ward said...

What a wonderful blessing in your life.......and how wonderful of you to wish the same happiness and joy in relationships on us.

GypsiAdventure said...

Isn't it amazing when you look at some of the relationship that were built in your life and you know there was more to this than ever could meet the eye? Special friends are rare and you are very blessed (we are all very blessed) to have them in our lives.
~K

Jackie said...

A pleasant surprise to have you visit my blog...it's been a long time! I wonder if there's not some Divine Intervention going on here. I think you wrote this post for me!

"May all resistance and obstacles be removed" In recent months I've let the deteriorating condition of our political world become an obstacle in staying "connected" to what's important.

Blessings...

Debz said...

Very nicely said J. It's nice to have people in your life that actually DO complete you.

Queen of the Mayhem said...

You are truly blessed!

We should all be so lucky! :)

Just telling it like it is said...

What are you trying to do make me cry...I am a marine in my heart due to my father being in nam, but I once had a circle of friends ..being a nurse and all... I had fire fighter friends and one of them had the same birthday as me and was the same age as me..and he used to tell me " The iron the iron will never fall you" (working out)...but things changed...pray for me...just peace that I might find that circle again. Oh and thanks for stopping by my blog silly I know but I hope I can make you smile

calicobebop said...

What a wonderful tribute! I envy your close circle. Most of the people I'm connected with that way are family members - hope to induct my daughter sometime in the future! You're living the dream!

Jen's Farmily said...

That's awesome that you guys are such close friends, and that your wife is your best friend. I think the older you get, the harder it is to find those best friends in your life.

gerbmom said...

I wish. Right now it is a regrouping time. Having left a church and unavoidably burning bridges (they did it, not us), and then finding out a lifetime friend was really a reason friend stretched into a season friend, and then losing our new community when Via Christus folded cuz everyone moved away - yep. Regrouping to be sure. I keep dragging out your old "reason, season, lifetime friend" post to keep on track....

You are a very blessed man indeed!

Stephanie said...

You really are blessed with your relationships and your gift of words!

I agree with the last comment...it's difficult to cultivate committed and solid relationships as we get older. At least for me. Life is busy - people have crazy schedules - it takes a lot of effort! Thanks for your prayer that we receive and accept the relationships we are given.

Anonymous said...

Aaahhh, friendships like these certainly ARE the best. I'm so happy you have them in your life!

Heidi said...

What a beautiful post with such strong emotions. I have that great relationship with my husband and our friends, who are actually godparents to our daughter, I wouldn't change it for the world.

HM said...

Holy smokes! No really holy smokes. I've never read your blog before and I think you wrote that post just for me. I've been having a really hard time with relationships right now...which I've shared on my blog and well it's just odd that you wrote that. Anyway, what a cool thing to have just close bonds with these people, you are a very lucky man!

HEALTH NUT WANNABEE MOM said...

You are very lucky to have such a loving and close knit group of friends! I am very blessed with a few of my own and am grateful everyday for them!

ssgreylord said...

i love how you describe your relationships in your life (and to have 3 of them!). wow.

i know you love music and your post reminds me of this quote on friendship:

"a friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words."

maybe a little too syrupy for you, but i liked it...

Bogart said...

Very cool. That is great and it is wonderful that you shared it with us.

Jen said...

Your words are powerful!
and ..I gave you a shout out (award) on my blog!