Read Proverbs 18:24
Some friends play at friendship
but a true friend sticks closer than one’s nearest kin. (NRSV)
It has been said that some people are lonely because they build walls rather than bridges. We build walls for a couple of reasons. We may have been hurt by others and so to defend ourselves against further hurt we keep others at a distance. While this may keep us from some pain,it means we embrace the deeper pain of loneliness. We were never meant to live alone,even though the price we pay for relationship is occasional hurt.
Others build walls because they are too preoccupied with their own pursuits. Their goals are all-important,they have little time or energy for others. Again,we were never meant to live like this: we were created in order to love and be loved,to consider others’ interests even above our own.
To be truly human,we need to heed the truth of our text today: be givers and receivers of friendship. Making and keeping friends is not easy,but walls are certainly not helpful. Bridge building involves time and effort. It entails the possibility of rejection and pain. It means some self-sacrifice. Relationship always involves risk.
But it is a risk worth taking. To hide behind our self-protective walls is to guard ourselves against the problems of people-and also against the pleasures of people.
Blessings
David Reay
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