"Life is a Handicap Event"

Title quoted from Leonard Sweet's book, page 19.


After church today, I went with a friend to a coffee shop so we could study/read. I wanted to get started on reading a book that I randomly picked up from home a few weeks ago and didn't want to have to bring it home at the end of the term without reading it first. I am a pretty practical person and like not to waste my efforts in bringing the book here. The book is called "11 Indispensable Relationships You Can't Live Without", by Leonard Sweet. From the 4 chapters I read today, I can say that I really like this author's writing style, and that there is a lot of wisdom in this book. If you have read any of my previous posts, you will know that I have been struggling with some relationships lately, and questioning my own views of friendship.

Little did I know that this book would come in handy. Especially reading it today. This book, as the title gave away, talks about 11 different types of relationships, that the author believes we need. I love metaphors, and this book is filled with them, and there are 11 major ones. He links the 11 types of relationships with Bible characters. Here are the ones I read about today; Nathan - the editor, Jonathan - the true friend, Jethro - the butt-kicker, and Timothy - the heir.

Briefly, I will describe the characters I read about today.

1. Nathan, the editor is " not someone who rushes to tell you the truth, but someone who helps you to do the truth". Nathan helped King David to see the error in his ways (when he committed adultery with Bathsheba) and to put an end to them.

At the end of this chapter, God spoke through Leonard in addressing one of my other needs. He told me that not everyone will stay in my life. People will come and go, even the ones we need. God brings people into our lives when we need them (or when they need us), and will take them away when they have fulfilled their role in our lives. Although them leaving is sad to think about, He reassures me that I can still keep them in my heart by "[having hallowed out a] place in our lives". He also alerts me that "many of the 11 relationships will be broken by deceit and betrayal [because humans are not perfect, ...] but we must honour our past and tie a gift to the saddle [by] speaking well of every bridge that carries us across" (pg 43).

2. Jonathan, the true friend is like a "second self". Somebody who "has seen you naked, in all your treachery and lechery, at your most heinous and most luminous, and loves you anyway" (51). Jonathan was King David's true friend. He sacrificed himself for David, so that David could rise and become King.

This chapter has reminded me that true friends are scarce and to have even one is enough. I don't need to worry that I only have one true friend, because it only makes them worth more in the end. I really like this quote that the author decided to include in this chapter, "Nothing among human things has such power to keep our gaze fixed ever more intensely upon God, than friendship for the friends of God". This was said by Simone Weil.

3. Jethro, the butt-kicker is someone who will "bless you to go to what God is calling you to do so that you can receive peace in your life". Jethro pushed Moses to follow God's calling and in doing so, contributed to Moses setting his people free from Egypt and leading them for many years.

I really like this analogy Leonard wrote, "just as bruised apples make the best pies, bruised and broken people make the best blessers and blessings" (70).

4. Timothy, the heir is "someone who knows your mind better than anyone almost ought to be allowed to know someone else's mind". Timothy was Paul's apprentice, continuing his legacy.

Here is the last quote for today (this guy has a good collection of them), "when nature removes a great man, we explore the horizons for a successor. But none comes and none will, for his class is extinguished with him". Said by Paavo Nurmi, a Finnish runner.

Reading this book has brought back the joys of reading. This book is also serving as extra fuel for my interest in reading more of the Bible so that I can grasp at a fuller picture of the 11 different characters the author talks about in his book. I found that while reading the chapters, I realized how little I knew about each of the characters. Up until recently, I had neglected reading the Bible because I thought that I already knew all the important stories. I had thought that growing up and being raised in church  meant that I had already sucked out all the stories of adventure and history from the Bible. But reading through the Bible again now that I am older gives me a whole new perspective, and different interpretation of what I am reading. Instead of reading the Bible because my Sunday School teacher forced me to, I now want to dive into the scripture itself to gather the knowledge in it so I can continually prepare myself to live each day to the fullest. Reading this book has peaked my interest in getting to know the back stories and background of the characters Leonard talks about and learn from them. I am so exited that I wish I could just sit here and read the whole thing from start to finish, but I know that it will take a long time and unfortunately I have a job I must go to tomorrow. So instead, I will let this excitement fester and grow in me so that I will not become lazy and continue to feed my hunger to read His Word every day.

I have probably already shared this song before, but it kept running through my head today.
All the Heavens - Third Day
Or this, also by the same name All the Heavens - Reuben Morgan (Hillsong) different lyrics, but also a good song.

This has been a long post, so read on if you want to see what I read in Proverbs 16 today.




Proverbs 16 is looking a bit different from the other proverbs I've read so far. This one seems to emphasize that God is in control, that the Lord has the ultimate judgement and decision over everything. It reminds me that I need to put God first, and know that I need to be wise in all that I think, say, and do.

Verses 1-3, "To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue. All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but his motives are weighed by the Lord. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed."

Verse 7, "When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him."

Verse 9, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."

Verse 13, "Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value a man who speaks the truth."

Verses 17-18, "The highway of the upright avoids evil; he who guards his way guards his life. Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall."

Verse 33, "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord."