In this phase of my life, I was loving church, loving studying the bible, loving the weekly women’s bible study, and loving the fact that I had a manual for life.
I felt released from having to figure out how to live – it was all there in the book. Released from figuring out the trajectory of my future life – it was in God’s hands. Released from dreaming up what talents and skills to acquire – the passions I already had cued me.
It all resonated so completely with me that I wanted to share it with everyone.
That’s what I did.
So began a period of losing many of the friendships I loved. I hadn’t anticipated that. I was blatant about sharing, and they were blatant in their responses.
In my excitement, I felt a freedom from things that had previously burdened me. My zeal for this new path apparently offended those I used to have easy relations with.
You can go on and on about a movie you love or a restaurant people just have to try, but it doesn’t fly like that with bible stuff. I learned the hard way.
I learned that it wasn’t okay to talk about God in whatever way I was doing it. Was I ranting? I didn’t think so, but perhaps that’s how I came across. Was I judging? It must have sounded like I was. Was I offending? I suppose so, since I lost good friends.
Distance still characterizes those relationships today, 15 years later. I still think often of those friends, and I sorely miss their presence in my life.
to be continued…
Copyright © 2020 Edee Kulper, excerpt from a book in progress
