#10 Longing For A Buddy

Reminder to myself before starting the entry:
1. Don't forget the Xiao gang

(I know it's repetitive but) It has become my habit each day I wake up to mentally repeat reminders to myself because of how easy our mind lets slip of the important stuff.

Okay, on to the entry.

As I started, two ideas for getting across my plea (if you would call it) popped in my head.

1. To do it advertisement style.

2. To do it the old-fashion style.

Think I'll do it the 3rd way; without style.

Kidding.

But in all honesty, my longing is nothing trivial.

Because stepping out to know God more intimately, reaching out to people and being more caring (I try at least), constantly reminding myself to reflect on my weaknesses, is not at all an easy task, even insurmountable if I ever feel alone.

And so I long for a buddy who:

- Can grow with me at a similar pace so we can challenge each other
- Spiritually shares the same fire, the same burden for people
- Care for people and each other
- Remind me of my blind spots, my inclination to legalism or my apparent lack of EQ
- Providing reminds to keep in check my tongue

Because in putting in effort there will be disappointments, discouragement and obstacles.

But before that happens, I want to be insulated from all these, because we cannot be spending all our time solving problems; we have to be prepared for at least some of them.

Being a follower of Christ often requires self motivation and self criticism. Being a contemporary Christian is even more challenging as we strive not just to keep ourselves in check, but stay relevant in present times.

As such, we are sometimes looked upon as defilers of the religion (though a relationship is what it is) or a desecration of principles when more traditional believers look uncomfortably at us as we seem to adopt ungodly practices in our effort to stay relevant. Non-believers, on the other hand, sometimes find our evangelism and fervour beyond natural and even fanatical.

And natural it is not, because our belief, our fervour, our hope is rooted in daily effort and discipline to know Him more. And we fall short. We're not perfect. But, we, try.

Surely this is standing between the living (believers) and the dead (unbelievers)? I might be pushing it a little but this reminds me of

Mark 13:13 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

And then there's tomorrow.