Neutral.

Our pastor has been on a series about the ABC's of Christianity and it is so good. Somehow we like to make things complicated when God himself did not. It has been good to really look toward going back to the basics (so cliche, but true). He's challenged us to read even just a small portion of scripture each day and write a thought out of that in a notebook. I've been reading I Thessalonians lately and have been thinking about a portion in chapter 5 where we're encouraged to bring out the best in those around us. I've considered my friendships and I can honestly say that there are some I feel like I contribute to the positive and some that I don't. As I've thought about it more, I realize that there is no neutral place. Either I'm contributing or I'm draining. Some people only drain. There are people I avoid because they make me feel like the life is literally draining out of me. I don't want to be that way. I want to be a consistent friend - one who adds to the richness of another's life.


There is an illustration about change (coins) that make this mental picture vivid for me. Imagine yourself sitting across a table from a friend. Each time one or the other does something positive toward the relationship, she adds coins to her pocket. Each time she does something negative, she has to throw coins out on the table. Some friends simply keep pushing more and more coins out on the table through their ugliness... eventually there are no more coins left - no more margin for error. It's at that point that even the smallest of offenses become major issues - there's just no more room. I want to be a friend that consistently adds so that when I do make foolish decisions and am wrong, that I am able to stay at the table.