What makes a relationship meaningful?
Why do you cling to the people you cling to?
Why do you admire those you admire?
What makes you cherish those who mean the most to you?
In our younger years, we mostly hung out with people who were "like" us--whether they played the same sport, lived in the same neighborhood, watched the same TV show, indulged in the same substances, or wore the same clothes. We do much of the same silliness today, because that's what's natural. But just because Ross and I both like kayaking, or because Alaina and I both get cravings for popcorn after 8:00pm, it doesn't necessarily make our relationships meaningful; something else dredges the bottoms out of those relationships to make them inexplicably deep.
Is it because we see each other often? Because we wish we were more like that person in some way? Because we are pushing towards a common goal? Because we label ourselves with the same religion? Because the relationship benefits ME in some way? Because that person NEEDS me in some way? Each relationship has a different set of answers, but what it comes down to is this, I think: "I'm WITH you." (I can't help but think of Avril Lavigne now.)
The relationships that mean the most to us are that way because at least one party has (in some way) articulated that they are in your corner, they are on your side, they are following you, believing in you, leading you, etc.
This brings two (or more) applications to our missionary quest: First, we have experienced multiple relationships along this young journey that have become significantly deeper in one night, one email, one phone call. Why? Because whether by having us over for dinner, sending us a check, opening up a window into their own lives or giving us an encouraging word, they have articulated genuinely: "I'm WITH you!" You might be one of those people. Thank you. Family members, for us, have already become more than just faces at large group gatherings, and friends we haven't seen in awhile have made us feel closer than ever before. It has been truly rich.
Second, how can we articulate this to folks in Guatemala? How can we grow truly deep and meaningful relationships in a soil we are unfamiliar with, in a language we aren't familiar with (yet), a culture we only know on paper? Well, we're looking forward to learning (which also means struggling). Looking forward to discovering others, discovering ourselves, and discovering God. Looking forward to leaning on God and to make clumsy relationships beautiful for us.
In other news, we have raised 25% of the total support we need for our 2 year missionary journey, and we are SUPER PUMPED about that. Bless God. Bless you.
Strength & Hope in Christ,
AJ & Alaina
Why do you cling to the people you cling to?
Why do you admire those you admire?
What makes you cherish those who mean the most to you?
In our younger years, we mostly hung out with people who were "like" us--whether they played the same sport, lived in the same neighborhood, watched the same TV show, indulged in the same substances, or wore the same clothes. We do much of the same silliness today, because that's what's natural. But just because Ross and I both like kayaking, or because Alaina and I both get cravings for popcorn after 8:00pm, it doesn't necessarily make our relationships meaningful; something else dredges the bottoms out of those relationships to make them inexplicably deep.
Is it because we see each other often? Because we wish we were more like that person in some way? Because we are pushing towards a common goal? Because we label ourselves with the same religion? Because the relationship benefits ME in some way? Because that person NEEDS me in some way? Each relationship has a different set of answers, but what it comes down to is this, I think: "I'm WITH you." (I can't help but think of Avril Lavigne now.)
The relationships that mean the most to us are that way because at least one party has (in some way) articulated that they are in your corner, they are on your side, they are following you, believing in you, leading you, etc.
This brings two (or more) applications to our missionary quest: First, we have experienced multiple relationships along this young journey that have become significantly deeper in one night, one email, one phone call. Why? Because whether by having us over for dinner, sending us a check, opening up a window into their own lives or giving us an encouraging word, they have articulated genuinely: "I'm WITH you!" You might be one of those people. Thank you. Family members, for us, have already become more than just faces at large group gatherings, and friends we haven't seen in awhile have made us feel closer than ever before. It has been truly rich.
Second, how can we articulate this to folks in Guatemala? How can we grow truly deep and meaningful relationships in a soil we are unfamiliar with, in a language we aren't familiar with (yet), a culture we only know on paper? Well, we're looking forward to learning (which also means struggling). Looking forward to discovering others, discovering ourselves, and discovering God. Looking forward to leaning on God and to make clumsy relationships beautiful for us.
In other news, we have raised 25% of the total support we need for our 2 year missionary journey, and we are SUPER PUMPED about that. Bless God. Bless you.
Strength & Hope in Christ,
AJ & Alaina