Posted by giveawayboy on September 26, 2002 at 21:29:25:
In Reply to: Re: To everyone at Parallel Universe Church posted by clover on September 26, 2002 at 16:28:00:
Steve is one of the best friends I have. It's funny that I say this, since he and I rarely do anything together, but this is not THAT kind of a friendship. What I mean is that Steve and I have invested in each other over time. We have built trust between us. We have willed to be friends, despite very different personalities, and very different temperments. We have had a few minor skirmishes, and we have come through piping hot. Recently, through some idiocy and bad timing, and perhaps with some effort from some putrid unseen forces, we could have been rent apart, but I think we've learned that lesson before. The thing that stand out in my mind is that God put us together in the first place. There is no getting over that. Steve has allowed me to attend church at PU even though he knows I maintain membership elsewhere. For me, Steve and the family at PU have always just been my brothers and sisters in Christ's body. It was always an organic, chosen relationship--this goes both ways. At one point, when I was a member at Crossover, I was a deacon in his church. But, even that flowed out of a good friendship. I was also Steve's roommate. That was one of the best experiences of my life. We'll have memories of that 'round dance' for years to come. I would like to agree w Chris also about Steve's rough edges, rounding off. Steve has evolved. He is much more even-keel than when I first met him. He seems more open to things not being perfect now. Hehehehe... The thing I love about Steve is that I know he has chosen to be friends w me.
Finally, Steve may or may not realize that in the last few months I have been coming out of a very dark phase of my life. He has been with me through a time when most churches would just kindly back away. He has been with me through a time when I was bitter and felt cornered by God and God's people. He just extended the same friendship he always did. At a time when most people become estranged from the church, I was propelled into it. At a time when others lose faith or fellowship I was smothered with it. And, although I appreciate everyone for this, the fact that I felt comfortable attending Steve's church, when I didn't even go to my own for a nine week stretch, speaks volumes for him. He not only embraced a wounded man, but he gave me his best. He not only kept his ties to me, knowing what I was going through, but he trusted me and let me be an active part. He saw the good in me when I needed someone, a Christian, to acknowledge it. He really had that much trust in me. And, he didn't try to 'fix' me. Thanks to him and all of you, I feel I am coming out of something dark and potentially dangerous. Now, I am beginning to feel the stirrings of something good and strong growing up on the inside of me once again. Thanks. Bill