Nicknamed: AFAAYWTB equals “As far away as you want to be.”
I woke from a sound sleep and immediately thought about two special people in my life. They know who they are if they ever read this, but I suspect this is read only by an audience who may be intrigued by the title.
You are as far away as you want to be.
I’ve learned that some people step away every time I step closer. They’ve set their boundaries and are not comfortable with anyone or anything getting too close. Chase them? They run. Sneak up on them? They get mad and feel threatened. Equally, I’ve learned that if a compliment is given, they will do something to eliminate the acknowledged thing.
How do you find your space with some people? You don’t. What do you do? Make your own life without them, but maybe leave some room for re-entrance. Then, wait for the time when they want to reconnect.
Does that work for me? Sure. Maybe. I dunno!
What’s the answer?
No answer is right or wrong. Life is different on every front. I’ve learned to hold my position and wait for someone to indicate they are ready for me to move closer. It does me no good to make the first move. I’ve learned this well.
I suspect this is true on many fronts: co-workers, community members, neighbors, and even neighborhoods. We set boundaries all the time. Cross at your peril. It may be a family thing where it hurts the most. I see this often happening on my own, and I suspect it’s true in yours and everyone.
Quickly! Realize this! It’s a two-way street! Some are forced to halt at the “Yield” sign. Don’t come any closer!
“The scariest thing about distance is that
you don’t know whether they’ll miss you or forget you.”
~Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook
Don’t Let The Molehill Become a Mountain.
In William Hunt’s painting of Christ standing at an overgrown door with a hand raised to politely knock on the door, notice there is no doorknob. Were it ever to be opened, and it would only be done so by the person on the other side, what would happen? If it is kept closed, that doesn’t stop Christ from knocking!
Where did his thought come from to paint such a picture? You would have to investigate the story in the book of Revelations, where Christ talks to the Church of Laodecia. The last of the seven churches John wrote to were the ones with the worst record.
Scripture is often appended to this painting.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock.
If anyone hears My voice and opens the door,
I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
Revelation 3:20 NKJV
Just because we cannot force an entrance, the absence of a doorknob should not stop us from making a similar connection to reaching others on the other side of the distance.
Laodecia had all they could physically need out of life, but in their blessing, they cared little about the times of life or the people they were committed to being a witness to. Neither Hot. Nor Cold. Just lukewarm. Take it, or leave it. Show up. Don’t show up. They are far from either perspective. Middle of the road? Perhaps. Balanced? It’s hard to say.
I’m not sure we are supposed to live this life skipping down the middle of choices.
Result? The Lord will spew them out of his mouth. Lukewarm. Neither hot nor cold. Yuch!
Let’s Think This Through, Briefly
From either side of the equation, both sides can be equally wrong. Standing their ground and keeping their distance. You’ve been rejected enough, and you’re not going to take it anymore. Your feelings have been pricked, and you are wounded. Why put up with the pain any longer?
Is this the voice of Christ speaking? Or do we have this little spitfire of a demon thought helping us to justify our position?
What would Jesus do? Better yet, what did Jesus do?
Jesus was constantly being interrupted. Jairus’ dire need was threatened to be uncared for because of the woman with the issue of blood. Lazarus was headed to the tomb, and Jesus paused for several days before picking up the trail. “Master, if you had only come…”
Is anything too late for the Lord?
Watch this video and tell me the truth of the moment.
I’m playing this while I close this posting. Who is reaching whom? It’s really up to each of us to choose the better path of life to walk. Continue knocking on the door of others, and let Christ win the war!