SO, my life had been swirling by lately and I’ve had little time to post (though I have several topics percolating in my noggin’).
It’s Saturday morning, I got a solid night of sleep ( waking up only 1 time instead of the usual 3-5 times). I had some time to check FB, read the blogs on my google reader and get ready for the day… and one blog that I read regularly prompted this post.
BACKGROUND: Themes that have been amongst the books that I’m reading, the sermons I’ve been listening to, the conversations I’ve been having, the music I’ve been singing, the class discussions I’ve been having have been broad: God’s majesty, the value of life, politics, the marks of true friendship, the battle with sin, living in a worthy manner, sorrow, eternity, provision…. etc. As I reflect, one thing that is obvious is that I have people in my life (either close by or far away; easy to love or hard to love; a refreshment or a drain). My life/my activities/my ponderings, regardless of where/when, have always been replete with people. This post is about one person, in particular (for those of you who need the punch line in order to stick with this). I don’t usually like to narrow my public posts to honoring just one person because it seems to communicate that everyone else is somehow regarded less. While that’s not true, I can understand. I’ve written many mental posts about people I love and appreciate or have been immensely encouraged or challenged by…it just never seems to make it to type (sorry Kristin, Jennene, Mom, Brad, Trevor, Burns, Vinson, and so many others that I think about and thank God for).
When I was an RA in ‘97 there was a girl who lived on my wing who was a spitfire. She had zeal, glee, heart, determination, moxy, a little snippy edge, a sincerity, an infectious laugh, a penvise depth to her eyes when she really wanted to know something. She overwhelmed me and drew me in all at the same time. Little did I know that she would become one of the most cherished friendships that I have ever had/have. Even typing that makes me feel like a fraud because we rarely talk now (well, we have blogs and comments), but I know the history and the foundation on which our friendship was built and therefore I know that if either of us picked up the phone or flew on a plane, our eventual meeting would show that love in Christ melts all time and space between true friends. Our college friendship included laughter, tears, service, fears, truth, confrontation, joy, irritation, depth, sin, wonder, family, hope, conversation, homework, errands, safety…
When I was an RD in ‘99 and she was an RA in another dorm, we rarely saw each other. Every once in a while we got the chance to hang out and in one of our rare special times, she told me something that I’ve never forgotten. She was telling me that she had been telling her dad how frustrated she was that she and I never had any time anymore and how lame it is that we can only get an hour or so every few months. He responded with (paraphrased, cuz I can’t remember what he said 9 minute ago let alone 9 years ago), ‘As life moves on, you will have fewer and fewer friends that are the way you and Sam are. Instead of complaining about the time you don’t have, cherish the time you do have.’ At the time, I was flattered and dismissed it with an ‘awwww’, but I have thought of his comment hundreds of times throughout the years because he was right. That one comment shaped gratitude in me and a deep respect for the truth that God gives and takes…and that I just need to be thankful.
CURRENT:
She got married (I stood up in her wedding as a witness, testifying my support of their union). She now has 2 kids (I’ve met one of them). She lives in Kentucky. She has a blog. Her blog is written exactly the way I would expect it to be… full of authenticity…authenticity in Christ…the authenticity on which our friendship was founded.
She writes, I’m encouraged, I comment, I sometimes pray, she writes, I’m encouraged, I comment, I sometimes pray… that’s the format of our friendship for this season of life. And, I love it. I am so thankful for it. And, by ‘it’, I guess I mean technology. And, our friendship.
I really have always respected her desires to love God and be totally exposed in the process. She has always been a source of wisdom, depth, consideration, truth, joy, perseverance…she rejoices with those who rejoice and mourns with those who mourn. She’s affected deeply by God, life, temporal/eternal.
I read her blog and am so thankful that she’s willing to document all the new phases of wifehood and motherhood…it’s like getting to be in her head…and in the process getting to learn about God’s deep deep love for us.
She recently posted on something that she’s been involved in for the last couple Christmass (how do you write Christmas in the plural sense?) and I have loved the concept (well, I was down with the ‘concept’ because of my IC work..and the conviction of the Spirit in my life). But, I wanted to share it with you guys.
I could’ve just added a link to her blog and by-passed the ‘fan club’ post, but I wanted to take the opportunity to tell you that I respect her and respect her choices and her direction and her mission with her husband and kids…and how she knows they are her mission field…and how she is finding ways to teach her heart and her kid’s hearts about loving Christ in this world and showing others the love of Christ in this world.
Click on the pic below and it will take you to the Advent Conspiracy website…check it out…there’s a cool video in the upper corner that wil give a 3 minute snapshot of the whole concept.
Oh, and you should add her blog to your google reader…seriously, you will be encouraged in your faith.
I really do cherish her and her friendship.
Natalie Hendrix Godshall
