Will here, I'm going to be writing this post solo. I believe I can share this (he did post it to Facebook after all) Jeremy is in the process of moving out of state, and it was a bit of a rush to get all of these written before he left this week. We decided that it would be simplest for me to write the concluding post, so I'm going to sum up our thoughts the best I can.
The last two and a half years of my life have been a time of pain, and growth; after all, our greatest growth comes from our deepest pain. God has used the experiences I have had to show me areas where He needs to work in my life, and aspects of who I have always been that I need to surrender to Him so that I can become who He created me to be. God gave me the personality I have, it is part of what makes me uniquely me, and He doesn't change that. However, He does call us to be stretched beyond our comfort zone, as we walk in faith with Him. Faith and planning don't go hand in hand very easily, trust and order are not the most compatible traveling buddies, but in realizing this, God has helped me to see areas where I desire control, and is helping me learn to surrender that to Him. I'll always be a dreamer, a planner, and a thinker, but I am learning to also live by faith, being guided by God, and making the most of the moment.
When I met Jeremy ten years ago, I had no idea that I had found a brother. I had no idea that I had met someone who would stand by my side in my most difficult hour, encourage me through the hardships I would face, challenge me to grow and push me to go deeper with God, or someone who would teach me about life, faith, relationships, and adventure. When I found out he was leaving the state, it was a bit of rough revelation; he's been close by for so long, and for a while we saw each other at least every other week. I know that this next step in his life is part of what God wants to do in him. In the past few years he's shared parts of his story with me, I believe I've challenged him in ways that stretch him, and encourage growth, healing, and deeper relationship with God, in the same ways he has challenged me.
God put us together, two men with many similarities, and yet with two completely opposite approaches to life. By doing life together, we've learned from each other, and this relationship has allowed us to both see areas where God is wanting to do more work. I know that this move is a huge step of faith for Jeremy, even for someone who lives in the moment, and I believe that God is going to speak to him in ways that He couldn't do without this obedience. For me, I'm learning about the need for focus, and God is using the things I am experiencing now to help me learn to really trust Him. The journey Jeremy is on is one that requires a bit more planning, and structure, as he said, a goal to be able to measure growth. For me, I'm learning to let go, and not be so stuck on the goal that I never start the journey.
God has been at work it both of us, teaching us about who we are, and who we were created to be. God has used our relationship to push us towards Christlikeness. I am so grateful for my brother, and I look forward to what the future holds. We won't see each other as often now, but we've been friends for a decade, and no distance is going to hinder that.
So brother, I'm looking forward to June in Pennsylvania, sitting in our hammocks by the river, early in the morning with a hot beverage, talking about our journeys, taking in the moment, and sharing our God given dreams.
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
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