Communication?

"Any problem, big or small, within a family, always seems to start with bad communication. Someone isn't listening." - Emma Thompson

This post may be a knee jerk reaction to what has happened lately, but I believe it is very meaningful and relevant to what we are talking about in class on Wednesday. 

Here in the past week, I found out some of my friends have split up.  They have filed for divorce and are both hurting immensely.  I have know this couple for 17 years and considered them some of my better friends.  It makes me sick to my stomach that I never knew anything about it.  I guess I expected them to come and talk to me about their issues if they had any.  

Some of this is coming as a revelation to me.  It made me physically ill when I found out my friends were splitting up.  I never asked anything but "surfacey" questions.  Things such as, "How's the weather out where you are?", "How's Work?", or "What's been going on lately?"  These deep, awe inspiring, thought provoking questions come to mind of things that I asked to keep a relationship "going".  Would you ask your husband or wife those things and expect to keep a good healthy relationship?  Not at all!  If we are to be about relationship with the Father, how are we modeling that in our lives with our Family or Friends?  There are many passages in scripture about fellowship, friendship, together, family etc... that God may have been dropping a STRONG hint.  He wants us to be with each other and helping each other out in every way we are gifted.  To use our gifts and blessings to help others out where they are not as gifted.  The different parts of the body are discussed in 1 Corinthians 12.  Just because you may not feel as gifted or as needed as someone else, you still have a ton you can contribute to someone else's life! 

I had a Professor in grad school say to me after a particularly bad session I had just had in therapy with a couple that he had been watching on closed monitor.  "Jeremy, there are some things we know we are not good at, will never be good at, and should have never even tried.  I have been watching you and I realize something you will never be good at."  At this point I was pretty much in tears thinking I was the world's sorriest therapist and should immediately quit and never listen to another problem or dispense advice.  He continued, "You should never be... a horse jockey."  I was stunned and my depression turned to laughter!  "Jeremy, you are just starting this new path and don't have any idea what it looks like to do it.  Give yourself time and keep developing your talents to become the best you can be at what God made you to be."  This story comes down to, don't sell yourself short!  Satan will do that enough for you!  Try to be with each other and in each other's lives!  Doing this for your family and for the family at church will make a huge difference in the life of someone you may or may not even know yet.  You are making a huge impact for eternity by being in someone's life and blessing them!  If you are not a member of a small group on Sunday nights, I encourage you to join one and share your life with them. 

Acts 2:42-47 
⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

"Communication leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy and mutual valuing."  

- Rollo May