Friends

Erika Bennett nonchalantly said, "By the way, at least four of us going to drive you up to San Francisco Airport on Monday night. Jason Byard, George, me, and Xiane." (I later find out that Amy Ransom is also jumping in).

I didn't really know how to react. I still don't really.
My flight is at 11:45pm on Monday. SFO airport is about 5 hours away from Los Osos. I can't leave before 4pm on Monday because I work in the daytime. That means each of these friends will likely be home and in bed around 3am. All of them work the next day.

I feel so incredibly amazed and with lack of words that the LORD would bless me in such an amazing way. I just feel so loved and nurtured, that friends would go out of their comfort to such an extent to send me off as with a team, and not by myself.

The LORD really has provided me a team; until the flight they are going with me in person, and after wards, they are going with me in spirit, which is even better!

I've been thinking more and more how good, loving friends are an absolute miracle. They are completely a gift from God we do not deserve and are incapable of keeping long without God's mercy. I just think: we're sinners. Our hearts are deceitful. We often do the things we don't want to do, and don't do the things we want to do to one another and to God. The list of our "unlovablenes and unlikeableness" goes on.

And yet we love, and we forgive, we suffer for, and we desire to bless. I can't explain our ability to feel this way towards others or invoke these feelings in others towards us, without God. It's not wonder He says to give thanks in all circumstances: even in seasons where I feel stripped down, the bare necessities I have are undeserved gifts from Him.

Blessings!

Shruti