How Far Apart Is Too Far?

We are much closer than this. :)

It's a tough question to answer.

Are we talking about physical distance? I've only tried long-distance dating one other time before this relationship. Being three hours apart became too much back then. But when things went south, it provided a much-needed cushion between us.

This time around I am only and hour and a half away from my guy. Some days it might as well be three hours. One benefit is the distance makes us treasure the moments we do get to be together. The distance also keeps us from rushing things because we can't be with each other every free minute.

What about emotional distance? Maybe it's not so much distance as difference. People speak different love languages. Based on a quiz I took, I prefer acts of service and quality time. Sometimes the physical distance makes the emotional distance challenging. If your someone special speaks a different love language, it can be difficult to adjust to meet their needs. But adjusting is what we need to do for people we care about.

Then there's the issue of spiritual distance. Does your someone special view God the same way you do? The chances of seeing everything exactly the same are pretty slim. So how far apart on your beliefs can you be and remain together? That's the question I'm really struggling with today. I'm trying to be sure that I'm not reading more into things than is there...that I'm not chasing a rabbit down a hole.

How far apart is too far?

Are You Really Listening?

I feel like I'm being retested this week.

Last week I felt like God was saying, "Listen," and that I got the message to keep leaning in. But this week it's like I'm being tested again on the material covered last week. It's like God is asking if I really meant what I shared.

I do. Or I think I do.

Am I really failing that miserably that I need to be retested?

In a discussion this week with my mom, she reminded me that God is the only one we can count on. People will disappoint us. I assured her that I understood that but that I want my person - the one who holds me close at the end of a bad day. 

She reminded me that my person will still irritate or disappoint me just like she gets frustrated with my dad. Even after 43 years of marriage, there are bumps in the road. People get tired and tempers get short and feelings get hurt.

So am I turning to God when I'm lonely and scared and I can't reach my person?

Friday Reflections (Keep Leaning In}

This week I've been trying to focus on listening to the message God has been trying to send me. The message that I might have been missing because I have the next thing to do on my mind.

What is surprising is that it's not a new message.

Lean into God. Keep trusting God.

I know. It's not mind-blowingly profound but there is something beautiful about it's simplicity.

What is it we want from people? Someone to care and be there for us. Apparently, God wanted to remind me that He is always there. When you get stressed, overwhelmed, or worried, give it to God.

Honestly, I could use that reminder every day.

Motivation Monday {Listening to God}

...a wise man will listen and increase his learning, and a discerning man will obtain guidance— Proverbs 1:5

Has God been trying to send you a message and you aren't opening your ears to hear what it is?

It would be nice if God just flat out said whatever it was we were supposed to learn or do or tell us where we are going wrong.

Unfortunately, God doesn't come over a loud speaker and announce the plan for each day.

There's a passage in Mark that the preacher talked about on Sunday. Jesus is telling his disciples for the third time that he is going to die. What's on their minds? John and James don't respond to that annoucement but instead ask about sitting at his right and left in heaven.

How many times do we fail to hear what's being said because we're thinking of our next request for God? Or we are thinking about how what we have isn't quite how we envisioned it?

We need to listen more. It takes practice to get better.