And when the meaning is not obvious or evident, I tend to find my mind searching and creating it myself.
Does that make since?
I'm a thinker.
I love to people watch.
And I love to find beauty and purpose in anything.
Yesterday, I got to spend 4 hours in Driving school.
I know, I know, how did I get so lucky?-- simple. California roll a stop sign on campus and you'll get your chance:)
Anyways- let's be real... I was in and out of that lecture like crazy. My mind was anywhere and everywhere, but there; exams, my sister's engagement party (that was currently going on), lunch, when I was going to sleep next, diet coke, cats, you know- the usual.
The only thing I could tell you was, I learned that eighteen-wheelers have 6 blind-spots.
I may have heard more he had to say if it wasn't for my wandering mind.
However, I am ok with missing what was said, because I like where it ended up this time.
God speaks.
Anywhere and everywhere.
Mr. Nicely, the instructor and owner of Nicely Built construction ( I found that so fabulous haha), asked us a question that spoke loud and clear to me.
He said, "Seriously, if you know someone is 3 times as blind as you are, why would you ride along with them?"
Now, technically he was talking about driving near one on the interstate,
but I heard something totally different.
My mind left driving school completely.
Friends have such an influence on one's commitment to God.
If we spend most of our time with people who are not on the same commitment level as we are, growing is not only hard, but maybe even impossible sometimes.
Don't get me wrong, by no means am I saying the only people you should hang out with are those who are as devoted as you are--how else would we build relationships, reach out, or share the Gospel to others?
I am talking about those who influence us
those we call our best friends
those we hang out with on a regular basis.
So many cliches were running though my mind--
You are who you hang out with.
You can't follow the wrong and be right.
Hang out with dogs, catch their fleas.
What you do is who you are.
And so-on..
It made me think if others were influencing me more than I was them-
and if they were, in what direction was the influence?
One of growth or blindness?
Or, in what ways were my influencing taking them?
We tend to be naive and think we are either strong enough to never let someone change us; or that it is not that big of a deal, no worries, it'll never happen.
Newsflash.
Sometimes the biggest change is the hardest to see-- until it's too late. (trust me, been there, done that, got the t-shirt)
And yeah, maybe we can stand our ground, but that is all we are doing.
We aren't called to just stand. We are called to run the race and that requires continuous growth.
In order to do so, we need influences who will sharpen us.
As I was sitting in class, evaluating the whole influence aspect in my life, I noticed it relates to one of my favorite questions I like to ask myself daily-
Does my commitment to the Lord make others question their commitment?
Get's me thinkin eveytime.
Mr. Nicely's question may not have been anything new and mind blowing, but it was definitely some food for thought.
And ya know, sometimes simple is the obvious we need, to eliminate the hard that is hidden.
Thank-you Camille Hooper for being my Proverbs 27:17.
As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.- Proverbs 27:17
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