Friendship.

It's amazing to me how many relationships can actually fit under the umbrella of that one word.

As you know, having moved fairly often the last twenty years, making new friends became part of our lifestyle.

The latter half of that time was as a Christian.  As a Christian I don't believe necessarily in "chance."  So when I meet someone new I wonder, "Is there something here?  Why has God allowed this person into my life?  My consciousness?"

Sometimes the answer is prayer.  Sometimes I have no idea, and can't figure it out right away but find out later.

My point.  I encourage you to nurture friendships that are out of your comfort zone when presented with the opportunity.  Is it important to have a like minded core?  Yes!  But don't discard someone because they make you uncomfortable.  I've learned more about myself (and my walk) with people who make me uncomfortable than with my like minded friends.

Maybe while looking for your core relationships, ask yourself and God every time you meet a new person...why has God allowed this person to cross my path?

I once had a Pastor who said the average Christian heard or was in contact with the faith at least 100 times before committing.  He did an entire Thesis on it.  Anyway, he said people generally weren't receptive to talk under the first 50 contacts, or seeds.  They responded more to action.

Sometimes that action is nothing more than prayer.  But sometimes, at least in my life, its been reaching out to someone who thinks we have nothing in common.  And we may not have any values in common, but we have the human condition in common don't we?

I can be friends with an Atheist, a Mormon, a Christian, a swinger, a homosexual, a WHATEVER,  because in the big scheme of things I believe God allowed them in my life.  That I have things to learn from knowing them and if I am truly blessed, God will allow me to be a blessing in their lives as well.

I am SURE you know all this.  But when I read your blog it made me think about all the moves and all the friends I made in unlikely places, with unlikely people.  And I thought I'd share....heh.

The latter half of that time was as a Christian. As a Christian I don't believe necessarily in "chance." So when I meet someone new I wonder, "Is there something here? Why has God allowed this person into my life? My consciousness?"

me too T and for us it goes even deeper in a way because of the bizarre circumstances that put us here. So I'm constantly trying to figure out ..."am we here for this person?" I really feel strongly there is a huge reason for this strange move. I think we're starting to figure it out with this church already tho. But it could be more than that I'm not sure yet. Time will tell.

I once had a Pastor who said the average Christian heard or was in contact with the faith at least 100 times before committing. He did an entire Thesis on it. Anyway, he said people generally weren't receptive to talk under the first 50 contacts, or seeds. They responded more to action.

I agree and believe this as well. I'm one to go right up to people no matter the background. I mean I've brought a Muslim to church with me before (he hated it) and now I'm bringing a Jew but lots of people inbetween as well over the years. Tonight my neighbor Bill who I invited to go to church with us showed up in my driveway (scared me to death). Evidently he doesn't want to miss our date. I get the feeling he's lonely. I chatted with him for quite a bit and invited him to dinner if he wanted to come on that Sunday. He asked if he could bring his daughter and I told him she was welcome as well. She watches out for him from a distance living a couple of miles away.

I can be friends with an Atheist, a Mormon, a Christian, a swinger, a homosexual, a WHATEVER, because in the big scheme of things I believe God allowed them in my life

hahahah me too...but gotta say, there won't be much action going on with the swinging couple from my end of things...lol. I have friends from all walks of life. One of my best friends is an Adventist. I don't like much of their theology but love my friend to death and we just agree to disagree and go about with our friendship. Another is a Catholic. Same thing.

am SURE you know all this. But when I read your blog it made me think about all the moves and all the friends I made in unlikely places, with unlikely people. And I thought I'd share....heh

Thanks T. While I've moved many times over the years and can relate to everything you said I've never moved like this as you have. I mean everything is new at once. The house, the neighborhood, the people, the streets, even the stores. We don't have Publix, Belk and Beals etc in Maine. So everything at once hits you when you make a drastic move like this. Three months into this now I'm starting to settle in. Like everybody it's nice to be in that comfort zone and I'm not there yet.

As such, they are probably looking for new friends as well.

Pretty much we're all in the same boat. Some are moving here because friends moved here first so they have a few contacts but most are like us.

I think you're onto something here. I just spent the afternoon with the two sisters. We really are hitting it off. THis is only my second visit with them and we spent over an hour just sitting on their porch chit-chatting. They want me to hang out at the pool with them tomorrow. It seems as tho that's an everyday activity; meet at the pool and hang out. Today it was 86 so many were at the pool when I went by to pick up my mail.




yep, you nailed me on this one!!    It ain't happening. I don't care how cute the other guy is....I'm not very good at sharing my toys I guess.

Hitting 80 today here (but then will be down in the teens by Sunday).