My friend Kris brought me this book that her friend Shawna gave her called Life of the Beloved by Henri Nouwen. There is this great quote in the third chapter that says, “Deep friendship is a calling forth of each other’s chosenness.” I really like that. What a gift it is remind people of their chosenness and to have our own chosenness called forth. I hope to call forth the chosenness of those around me in whatever context I am living in, be it that KC life or the Peruvian jungle.
Jesus gave me this sweet time a couple weeks ago where two of my most favorite humans were in the same place as me for a short couple days. What a delight it was to be together, to laugh together, to share the hard and the good, and to remind each other of why we are doing what we’re doing. All that occurred while we drank hot apple cider and consumed too many cinnamon donuts and meandered around a deserted City Market on a Sunday afternoon. It’s amazing to me that we can experience Jesus’ goodness through a Z-Man sandwich from Oklahoma Joe’s and while carving pumpkins in the rain and listening to George Ezra’s tunes. Jesus used that heart friend time to show me how He is constantly reminding us that we are cherished and chosen by Him.
Henri Nouwen points out, “Our awareness of being chosen opens our eyes to the chosenness of others.” Our being aware of our own chosenness has natural ripple effects. So here are two friends who helped remind me of my chosenness who are also having those ripple effects on the people around them…
Abby is that friend who I can call at any hour, when I’m in need of a pep talk or just want to tell her a joke. She laughs with me, she encourages me, but most importantly she consistently reminds me of truth. Abby is currently support raising as she goes on staff with Eagle Lake Camp in Colorado, a ministry of the Navigators. Jesus changed her life on top of a mountain and now she’s helping Him change other people’s lives atop that same lump of land. It’s a pretty sweet deal if you ask me. Click here to check out more of her story.
Kris is that friend who has a way of bringing perspective and peace in the midst of any situation. She has the gift of presence, that’s for sure. When you’re with Kris, you never have to wonder if she’s listening, you never question if she’s already planning her day out in her head or if she’s worried about what will happen next. Kris is listening, and she’s all there. Kris consistently reminds me what it means to be present to people and to what Jesus is doing right in front of me. Kris is also support raising to do just that with YD Adventures. She gets to be present with kids and encourage them to notice what Jesus is doing in and around them as she adventures with them in God’s beautiful creation. To read more of her story, click here.
That heart friend weekend woke me up to the gift of calling forth each other’s chosenness. Let’s not waste a moment criticizing those around us or overlooking them altogether. Let us cherish the opportunities we have every day to remind those around us that they are loved and valued. Let us call forth the chosenness of those in our midst.
