Time to Jump In.

Anyone who knows me, knows the value I place on the relationships in my life. I have been blessed with so many incredible friends over the course of my existence. During my college career alone, it is overwhelming to think about all the wonderful people the Lord placed in my path. Just this past year specifically, I had the opportunity to meet and build relationships with a new group of people. Out of this group several relationships were formed that I knew were a gift from the Lord. I was excited to finally have a few individuals who I was completely transparent with and in turn they trusted me enough to be transparent back. I was excited to see our relationships grow and discover how the Lord would use us in each others lives in the months, and years to come. But, life happens. Things change. People change.

Recently, I have been learning about and reflecting on the relationships that are in my life. I praise the Lord for the fact that so many of my relationships are refreshing and edifying. So many of these relationships push me to be a better friend, brother, son, Christ follower, artist, and human being.

Brett Club, one of the Pastors at Brentwood Church, did an incredible teaching on this very topic. His sermon is actually why I began thinking through all of this.

Brett shared with us this definition of a friend:

"A friend is someone who sharpens our character and shares our life"

Thankfully, so many of my friends fit this description.

However, I have also discovered that a few of my relationships are just simply…not. They aren’t refreshing, or edifying, and I find myself worn out trying to push my way down a one way street relationship.

In this new chapter of my life I am also forced to recognize that some relationships are only for a season. I believe everyone comes into your life for a reason. But it is impossible to maintain relationships with everyone, forever. There is always going to be a new city, a new school, a new job, a new family.

Letting go is hard. I don’t like it. I don’t want to imagine my life without certain people in it.

But, I think I am starting to realize you have to free up space in your heart sometimes in order to let new people in. I’m not saying I need to make a list and start crossing people off. But I do believe I am going to need to work on accepting the idea of these changes.

A friend said it best in a post earlier this evening.

"We are taking steps in new directions and going to be trying new things. It’s scary and unknown but exciting. It’s moments like these that you just have to jump in! You can’t hold back or do it half way. You have to give yourself the best chance to succeed! I don’t know what your unknown or scary new thing is but my advice to you is to jump in!"

For me, my unknown or scary new thing is the change that must take place in order for growth to occur. Especially in the relationship department.

So, here is to investing in new relationships, and telling people exactly how much they mean to you. Here is to moving on, and not sending the text you know will never be returned. Its time to jump in.

Photo by: @brookecourtney