FRIEND OR FOE

friend or foeI wish I could take credit for some fairly mature Biblical and heavenly perspective in action, but that would be stretching it and destroying the truth behind my actions. I went to breakfast with a buddy of mine a while back. We used to work out at the gym together for a time until he moved to the southern part of the city.

That little difficult to describe thing in the heart or mind tickled my core and made me think of the guy I’ll call Carl. Carl had some medical issues last year that I’d texted him about, but I never heard back from him. I texted him again and he responded saying he’d come north to work out with me and catch up on Saturday.

We talked as much as we worked out while we caught up with life, families, politics, and all things general and specific. We went to breakfast and ate what we both know better than to. At least I didn’t eat biscuits… probably more to give Carl grief about as much as me trying to eat healthy…

Carl and I have a lot in common; we’re the same age, he has a daughter as well, we have similar political views, and even when we disagree on matters such as religion, we’re mature enough to seek first to understand at least as much as we seek to be understood. We’ve had some serious discussions over the last five to ten years…

Carl’s an intelligent guy, he has two degrees, but you couldn’t tell that by looking at him. He used to have  hair like me, but time started stealing so much of it, he gave in and went the opposite direction – straight clean shaved head to top off his big frame and persona.

I know a lot of people that Carl knows and I have both worked out with over the years that are Christians. While most of them don’t look down their noses at Carl or me, few of them would call him a friend or go out to eat with him, but in fairness, they probably aren’t called to…

After the years of being his workout partner, theological debate competitor, friend whose concerned about his daughter, his health, and goes out to get something to eat with once in a while, I realize I’ve stumbled across, by God’s grace, how were to treat all people.

Carl knows how I believe and he knows I’d like him to believe and trust in God too, but that doesn’t mean I’m not called and blessed to have a person like Carl in my life.

I can go places and do things that some other Christians can’t because I’ve been redeemed. God has transformed me from a prodigal. God shows us how to see others in the world the same way He saw me… Sometimes it seems like the ones who are the furthest from God are really the closest…

Just because Carl works in a strip club that doesn’t fit my lifestyle or belief, doesn’t mean that I should avoid a life that God has placed in mine. I fall short in most areas, but my redemption reminds me to leave judgment up to God… I don’t mean more to my Father than Carl or anybody else in this world…

Friend or foe…