dream

relationships first?

Last night during my Fuller class on Christian Community a classmate, Brad, shared a story that continues to intrigue me. I'll try and sum up his story:

You're always told that the best relationships you'll ever have will be in college. The whole experience fosters rich community and incredible growth. But why do those relationships have to stop when we leave college? Why are we forced to say goodbye to our closest friends at graduation in order to pursue the career and the money and the Dream of American life. Brad and his closest friends were challenged at graduation. They were asked, "What would it look like if you put relationships - to God, to your spouse, to even your close friends - before your career race to the top?" Brad was in a very strong small group of men throughout college, and they felt God putting things in place for them to try out this little experiement. So, they all started going to the same church so they could have a consistant place to be involved together. They found jobs in the area. They married (Brad got married a week after graduation). And now they are starting to have kids and buy houses in the same neighborhood.

Brad's 26 and has the tightest group of friends he's ever had. And he's been out of college for years. I know there's more to his story, and I'm excited to talk to him more about how it actually looked living this life of relationships before money. But I know enough to see what a radical and profound picture of Christian community this is. And I know there's got to be a way to experience this in my own life.

I have incredible friends right now. Some of the best of my life. I don't want to watch them fade away.

I know God is calling each of us in our own unique story. And I know, and am experiencing, how His call often pulls friends apart. There's got to be a way to live this commitment to relationship in my own life, though. There's just got to be...

Posted by brant at October 5, 2004 11:58 PM