Every Friday, I link up with the Gypsy Mama and other writers to write unfiltered, unedited for five minutes for the pure joy and discovery of the craft. Today's word....
Real
We gathered in the parking lot between our apartment buildings. An old man in prime physical condition huffed by on his 100th lap for the day. He would become a dear friend by the end of the summer.
Twenty-three of us in navy shirts in the Colorado evening. Strangers in a foreign state. Sojourners in her mountains. Conversation was stilted and awkward, a blur of names and smearing of new faces.
Who would have thought?
Who would have thought?
Because of differences, we were forced to be vulnerable, to find common ground, to accept the flaws, and embrace the quirks to live together, study together, hike together, grow together, and love together.
Few friendships are ever truly authentic. But on uncommon ground with foreign people, we were real.
Isn't it strange how sometimes it's easier to be the "real" you with people you don't know compared to friends? Thanks for being real :)
ReplyDeleteOur differences do, indeed, force us to be vulnerable and to accept others in their vulnerability as well.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post.
If you live long enough, sometimes you no longer know who the real you is unless you have been careful to cultivate honest appraisal of yourself on a regular basis. It's true. Strangers often mirror back to me a better unbiased picture of who I really am more than some friends do, but God ultimately teaches me through his word what is real about me and what is fraud.
ReplyDeleteoh I love this - the diversity, the vulnerability.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing experience, Kariss. Thank you for sharing. I too have made lasting friendships with people who I really thought I had nothing in common with - but they gave me space to be real.
ReplyDeleteMy post: Real
It's amazing how the Lord knows what we need when we never would have selected that for ourselves. Thanks for sharing, Corinne!
ReplyDeleteI love that the Lord values diversity so highly! Thanks for stopping by
ReplyDeleteSelf-examination is difficult because it brings to light things we do not want to acknowledge or deal with in ourselves. That's why the Lord designed us for community. Thank the Lord we were never meant to live in isolation. Thanks for stopping by, Ann. You shared a good word!
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how the Lord uses our openness. Thanks for reading, Denise!
ReplyDeleteIt is one of the great mysteries of life. I still haven't figured it out, but I remember the lesson often. Thanks for reading, Meredith!
ReplyDelete