You can’t expect someone who is still on page 10 to have an
understanding of or to join you in your reaction on page 85.
Often when we go through something in life we gain an immensely different knowledge base and perspective than those who we share life with that haven’t been through the same. You try a job in a new state, but come back. You try and fail. You try and succeed. You have a baby. You lose a close friend or family member (through betrayal or death.) You graduate with a degree or higher degree. You experience divorce. You get a real honest and true peak at how much God loves you. You learn you are adopted. You adopt. You understand you have been adopted by God.
All of these events are usually achieved with many people around you that don’t get the same experience you do …or at least certainly not WHEN you do. Before you have a baby you might spend time with a lot of friends without kids...or at least a few. Before you get a divorce you may spend many nights with other married couples. Before you graduate much time may be spent with other students. With each new level of intimacy in your relationship with God, your friends who don’t know him or just met him seem younger. The desire to show them what you learned is a deepening hunger and exciting joy. When you read the amazing twist on page 56 you desperately want your friends to make the giant leap from page 10 to 56 so you can share the incredible excitement.
Like reading a book or watching a television series, it is hard to remember that someone on page 10 or season 2 episode 3 lacks the knowledge and experience you have at page 85 or episode 5 of season 7. They won’t react like you. They won’t understand your reaction, but you can find joy and bridge the gap as you reminisce with them until they have caught up. Really, you might be surprised you missed something on page 36 or forgot something you loved so much when you were back on page 42 yourself. You might soon find yourself uplifted with joy and rekindled passion to the story as you rewatch season 5.
When they graduate, you can help them navigate the budget changes from student to workforce, but also be refueled as you are reminded of the incredible achievement you have accomplished and how far you have come.
If they suffer a loss or divorce, you can hold their had and remind them that there is another side…something others told you and you desperately needed to hear over and over…you didn’t believe when you stayed battered by the storm you weathered. It will remind you time is precious and relationships are worth attention, work, and sacrifice.
How they grow with God the happy they obtain and the sorrows they traverse will remind you of the pages in your life that were so intense when you first read them, but seem so different as you reread with the knowledge you have now. As you remember how good God has been and the story has been laid out your become refueled with desire of more, with intrigue, and renewed attention as moving ahead will reveal new chapters and knowledge. While it might also lead to being on a different page than some of those around you, you can be as easily encouraged in the value you get when they read what you already have.
Often when we go through something in life we gain an immensely different knowledge base and perspective than those who we share life with that haven’t been through the same. You try a job in a new state, but come back. You try and fail. You try and succeed. You have a baby. You lose a close friend or family member (through betrayal or death.) You graduate with a degree or higher degree. You experience divorce. You get a real honest and true peak at how much God loves you. You learn you are adopted. You adopt. You understand you have been adopted by God.
All of these events are usually achieved with many people around you that don’t get the same experience you do …or at least certainly not WHEN you do. Before you have a baby you might spend time with a lot of friends without kids...or at least a few. Before you get a divorce you may spend many nights with other married couples. Before you graduate much time may be spent with other students. With each new level of intimacy in your relationship with God, your friends who don’t know him or just met him seem younger. The desire to show them what you learned is a deepening hunger and exciting joy. When you read the amazing twist on page 56 you desperately want your friends to make the giant leap from page 10 to 56 so you can share the incredible excitement.
Like reading a book or watching a television series, it is hard to remember that someone on page 10 or season 2 episode 3 lacks the knowledge and experience you have at page 85 or episode 5 of season 7. They won’t react like you. They won’t understand your reaction, but you can find joy and bridge the gap as you reminisce with them until they have caught up. Really, you might be surprised you missed something on page 36 or forgot something you loved so much when you were back on page 42 yourself. You might soon find yourself uplifted with joy and rekindled passion to the story as you rewatch season 5.
When they graduate, you can help them navigate the budget changes from student to workforce, but also be refueled as you are reminded of the incredible achievement you have accomplished and how far you have come.
If they suffer a loss or divorce, you can hold their had and remind them that there is another side…something others told you and you desperately needed to hear over and over…you didn’t believe when you stayed battered by the storm you weathered. It will remind you time is precious and relationships are worth attention, work, and sacrifice.
How they grow with God the happy they obtain and the sorrows they traverse will remind you of the pages in your life that were so intense when you first read them, but seem so different as you reread with the knowledge you have now. As you remember how good God has been and the story has been laid out your become refueled with desire of more, with intrigue, and renewed attention as moving ahead will reveal new chapters and knowledge. While it might also lead to being on a different page than some of those around you, you can be as easily encouraged in the value you get when they read what you already have.
Romans 12:15-16 “15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those
who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another….”
Rejoicing
and mourning with one another may actually be a call not to experience the same
thing/feeling at the same time, but rather an encouragement to share in someone’s
experience as you have already read that page. Or if this is your first time
reading the page or watching the episode, to seek out another who already has.
After all, the most common harmony isn’t achieved without each part being on a different note.
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