ephesians 4.

okay, i lied.  i was going to wait until the new blog design was done before i came back and started blogging but i just can't do that.  in which case, i should probably spend this post going into detail about why i disappeared, the weird illness that took over my life for the last month, etc.  but i have something on my mind.  and so we're going to skip all the pleasantries (at least for right now) and jump right in.

i find that i have a hard time relating to people recently.  not because i don't want to relate to them.  but i can't help but find some of the trivial babbling to be excruciatingly boring.  if you're reading this, i'm most likely not talking about you so don't get all self-conscious.  it's just that i've been through some things in life that others my age haven't.  and not saying my experiences outweigh others' but sometimes i feel that the gift of life is lost on people because they are so caught up in "he said, she said."

what is life about?

i have a friend who loves to dwell on my insecurities.  they love to joke about it constantly.  in fact, recently, every time i talk to them, that's the only thing we seem to talk about.  there is so much more to life than those though.  there is so much more to me than that.  if we confine ourselves to one aspect or two, we are missing the big picture.  when we get hung up on one event, we fail to see all the events of our lives.  yes, this person was mean to me or that event didn't go as planned, but in the whole scheme of life -- does it matter?  we're pretty lucky that these small things are the worst things in our lives.

yesterday, i ran into a friend on campus.  he is always a nice kid, bubbly and outgoing but super applied in his work.  something seemed off and when i asked, i was surprised to learn that he may be in need of a liver transplant.  yeah... that sore throat i had for three weeks this summer?  who cares.  my frustration with that one situation?  so what... my life is golden.  i'm alive.  i'm healthy.  i have a loving family and some great friends.  he used to be a runner and can now barely walk 100 yards without being out of breath and ready for a nap.  he's taking 12 credits and has to nap in between classes just to make it through the day.  i'm peachy.

what is life about?

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace... Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 4:2-3, 29-32