I thank God for my childhood friend. I have a best friend (besides, of course, my husband). Actually, I show more raw feelings to him than to my husband because of our background. We can tell each other anything and let it not be a shock. We have seen each emotion in the other. We have been through childhood, marriages, and parenting into adulthood.
About twelve years ago, I became enthusiastic about the topics of positive thinking. I worked hard on self improvement and saw results. It’s only been in the last four years that I’ve had a hard time keeping up. There are many reasons for this. The children have grown up now. My father died. I moved a couple of times and quit my career. It takes time to build new relationships. What used to be seen as enthusiasm when you were young can be seen as annoying as an older person. Trends change and opportunities shrink.
At least one thing the people in my case group appreciated was that they could talk to me about just about anything. They didn’t have to say what they thought they wanted to hear. If they were nervous, I would say to them, “Sounds like you’re having a rough day. Let’s talk about it.” They always left feeling better than when they arrived. I also miss those conversations.
Church can be awkward at times because on Sunday mornings, people are in a hurry and have families to attend to. If there are people who feel discouraged, those feelings may not be addressed and an opportunity may be missed.
Whether in positive thinking, healing, or prosperity teachings, real life can sometimes be overlooked. Yes, the way we react to an event can determine an outcome. No, Santa Claus does not give toys to all the children in the world. No, not all people are cured. No, not all determined and hard-working workers will see their dreams come true or become rich.
Smiling, thinking positive, and “pretending until you get it” won’t take away the pain of crime, war, violence, disease, injury, or oppression. Defend justice, action and change can.
I’m glad to have a friend that I can be real with and she with me. We laugh, cry, curse if necessary (in extreme situations), sometimes all in the same conversation. There is no way to fake it. This may sound strange, but in a way, God is part of the conversation. At that moment there is more healing taking place for me than in any other setting.