Confessions of a Peace Lover...

Living life in a circle of friends; what does is really mean?

It probably means different things to different people at different times in their lives.

For one gal I know living life in a circle of friends - specifically college friends - meant being accepted when they wanted to accept her; and being rejected when they didn't want her around.

For that young woman her "circle of friends" was a bad example of how to love well, yet it was a good example of how NOT to treat your friends. It was also a catalyst for change in the young woman's life - proving once again that good things can come from bad circumstances.

For one college gal life in her circle of friends is wonderful. Another has told me she travels to a neighboring college each weekend to find a circle of friends that she feels able to be herself in.

For a dear friend it meant being loved and accepted as long as she was a part of the circle; but when life took her along a different path the parting left her feeling forgotten and abandoned.

For a former high school classmate it means spreading the "glue" of friendship frequently to keep the circle from falling apart.

For me it means having friends to do life with, to minister with, to laugh with, to pray with, to give love to, and to be loved by.

What about you? No doubt you have a circle of friends.

Is it a big circle, or a small one? Is a deep circle, or a shallow one? Is it filled with friends from the past, only new friends, or a mix of both? Is it full of family members - or not so much!

Each one of these components tells us a lot about ourselves, and much about our friends.

One of the best books I have read regarding healthy relationships is the book "Boundaries" by John Townsend and Henry Cloud. Honoring healthy boundaries is the foundation of healthy relationships. The book helped me to see where I was healthy and where I wasn't - 'cause lets face it, a circle of friends is as healthy, or unhealthy, as the friends who make up the circle and I am one of those friends!

I didn't set out to mention The Big 3 in this blog, but I find myself right back there again.

Your friendships are probably about as healthy as you are. So how are you doing - physically, emotionally, and spiritually?

Are you being intentional about getting and/or staying healthy? Are you in need of a little spiritual refreshment?

I want to take this opportunity to personally invite you to the 5^th annual Circle of Friends women's conference, "Meet Me at the Well", Saturday, February 27th, 2010, in Wooster, Ohio. Featured speaker is nationally known writer and conference speaker, Virelle Kidder. (You might have heard of her, I've mentioned her a time or two - or three - in Confessions of a Peace Lover.)

The doors open at 7:30am, conference starts at 9am and the day ends at 4pm. Tickets are only $10 and include a continental breakfast along with a wonderful day of encouragement, worship, and being together in a great circle of friends! Tickets can be ordered here on the web-site or from the COF office at 330-852-0000.

Maybe you and your "circle" should plan to come? Or perhaps you just need a day "alone in a crowd" to refresh and renew your spirit. Wherever you find yourself please know we would LOVE to have you join our circle of friends as we meet our Savior at the well!

The Well

(recorded by Lisa Troyer, Meet Me At the Well; The Well - Jeremy Johnson and Michael Boggs (c) 2010 McKinney Music, Inc. (BMI) Upsurge Music L.L.C. a division of Amplify Music Group, L.L.C. ASCAP (admin. by LifeWay Worship)

"Are you thirsty? Are you searching?

Are you longing, for His mercy?

Come To The Well; Drink living water

Come and be filled with the love of the Father

Wherever you are, wherever you've been,

Come to the well; never thirst again

Bring your worries, all your hurting

To the place where Grace is flowing

Come as you are, as you are, come"

Until next time.

Beth