Lonely Birds

The young man did go off and teach the Africans how to read, He did not go alone but he went with a friend. He went with an African. So do we have to do it alone? No. The friends we have surrounding us keep us grounded and strengthen us as we strive to do the Lord's work or just live life. Jesus promised He would send another to dwell within us (Holy Spirit) so we are never alone. Nevertheless, there are times where we need the guidance, support and friendship of others. We are created to live in families, either natural or adopted.I do not think we should be afraid of the "Lonely Birds" but strive to use the time alone to be with the Lord.
I had someone tell me that he has a hard time believing God is interested in his life enough that God is looking over him. That God is distant. I think if you take this journey alone, you will feel that. God is always with us, but we also need others to walk with us. We need a hug or encouraging audible words and God created man to do that for Him. Jesus came in the flesh to demonstrate in the flesh that He is with us. Jesus left behind the Holy Spirit that dwells within each believer. He also created man to walk together. A friend who walks with you, challenges you, and just supports you is a gift. It is a gift that can last forever. It is an adventure that you share with your friends and as time passes, you develop "Koinonia". What is Koinonia? The meaning of koinonia holds the idea of joint participation in something with someone, such as in a community, or team or an alliance or joint venture. . Koinonia is a mature love that loves hard, tough and with compassion. It is an understanding of a person that goes beyond words or unrealistic expectations. We are all flawed and it is having people who can challenge us and then lead us to a deeper relationship with Christ and we lead them in the same way.As we mature in our relationship with Christ and face the challenges in front of us, we should always look to others for the help we need to succeed.

The Lonely Birds

Moe and I have loved this movie called The Power of One. I think what strikes me is when the main guy is a little boy who lives in South Africa during WWII. He loses his father, mother and is put in a German school where they hate him. His only friend is a chicken an African gave him. The German kids kill it. Anyway. He speaks often of the "Lonely Birds". He is a lonely kid who in the end makes a difference as a man. He loses everything but then instead of taking a college scholarship and gaining success, he runs off to teach the Africans how to read and write.

I am beginning to wonder if people who do great things have "Lonely Birds". To lead something that is different and will challenge people, some will actually hate you, puts you in a lonely place. Maybe the loses he suffered also prepared him. I don't believe God creates the loss to make us stronger but maybe He uses our losses to strengthen us to pave a new direction and challlenge the status quo. Maybe he uses our pain to move us to a place where we give from a brokeness that comes from suffering.

Maybe we are to be come friends with the "Lonely Birds", so we don't live to please man? Just thinking.......