Keep seeking

Here lately, I have learned quite a few things.
I set out to keep my eyes wide open,
but here lately-
It would have been easier to keep them shut.

I've realized that I'm pretty prideful.
I don't like to be put in my place.
I don't like for people to yell at me,
without a chance for m to defend myself.
I don't like having my rights taken away.
I don't like for someone to set limits.

Basically,
I've been humbled.
Having my eyes wide open never meant just seeing all of the good stuff.
It's seeing people at their worst too.
Which is not always picture perfect.
Emotions are high,
things change fast,
and words cannot be taken back.
It still begs us and pushes us to see if we have what it takes to be a friend.
To see past the surface,
to what is really going on deep down.
To really be able to be the friend-
that we have all been called to be.

Throughout the past week of seeing some of the more unfun things,
3 words have echoed in my mind.
Choose. To. Invest.

Jesus never questioned investing in our lives.
When we are kicking and screaming,
covering our ears, deaf to his calls,
running violently,
passing judgement,
giving in to the ways of the world.
He still invests in us.
He still loves us through our turbulence.
He never questions our friendship.

What if we could try to invest like that?
Listen when we don't agree,
Love when we've been wronged,
Speak life when it would be easier to speak death,
Embrace when no one would blame us for walking away.

Hmm...
Things to ponder,
things to work for.

Can we be a friend despite ourselves?
Can we choose to invest?

Humbling days.

Jesus keep me focused, don't let me close my eyes to the things I don't want to see.