Island Living

We were never intended to live our faith in isolation.  As homeschoolers, we can get into a mindset of what I like to call, "Island Living". There are various things, or "life situations" that get us to this place before we know it. Maybe you're just a "homebody" that feels like you don't need anyone. Maybe you're thinking, "I don't mind friends, it's people I cant stand." 


I have to confess, I can be one of those people who think, "I don't need anyone, I got this! People just make my life messy!" Well, that kind of "island thinking" is wrong! I do need people, I need my friends and they need me!  

Let's look at Scripture to see what God has to say about friends.  

Exodus 17:8 "The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.  Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of your men and go out to fight them.  Tomorrow I will stand on the hill with the staff of God in my hands." 

So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hand, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands the Amalekites were winning.  When Moses' hand grew tired, they (his friends) took some stones and put it under him and he sat on it.  Aaron and Hur held his hands up - one on one side and one on the other - so that his hands remained steady until sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword." 

Do you see how God used all of those people to defeat the "enemy"? Moses needed his brother and friends to help the Israelites through a rough situation.  

Friendships can get messy! Anytime you have more than one person in a relationship you have more than one point of view or opinion. Instant ingredients for conflict. It's how you walk through those conflicts that either bring "life" or "death".

   

I am not saying solitude is a bad thing, it's not!  While on this earth, Jesus was surrounded by his "friends". Occasionally he went away for solitude.  

If you have a good support system in place, that's great! But if you don't, consider asking God for a few good friends you can share your life with - the good and the bad. But don't be surprised when conflict appears on the scene, it's inevitable you will not always agree.  It's in those times God will faithful to grow you and the friendship alike. 

C. S. Lewis, author and professor, said, “Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art… It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.”