Friends

There is something so rewarding about being true to yourself.

Tonight I received an encouraging message from a good guy friend of mine from Westmont. He stumbled upon my blog, and the feedback he gave me made my heart jump for joy! YAY! friends that care!

It's true that my spiritual journey has required pruning pieces of my life that I once enjoyed so thoroughly---like friends---not that God wanted to take away my friends---but I believe He wants to give me meaningful relationships.

This may sound arrogant---but I have always had a lot of friends. I've always been well-liked and somewhat "popular" so-to-speak. I've changed schools many times and I've never had trouble making friends---ever.

However---it came to a point where I had a lot of friends---but I was very alone. No one REALLY knew me. I invested time in multiple shallow relationships---but I wasn't a good friend to any of them---and vice versa.

So in the pruning process---I've had serious feelings of loneliness---however that is slowly beginning to fade with the substantial relationships that are forming in my life.

I'm beginning to establish relationships where I am free to be me! No more performing, impressing, pretending----just honesty and vulnerability.

Loving relationships---not romantic---just loving. Male and female friendship relationships.

You can live without sex (which I hope I don't have to, but that's beside the point)---but you can't live without love.

How can anyone love me if I never show them who I am?

Love requires vulnerability.

I want to live out of love and vulnerability. It feels incredible to have people that love you for who you are.