Connections

Connections

Have you noticed that life changes some friendships? 

How about the ones that you started when you were younger - are you still connected?

I have had friendships that have started when I was a girl

and they lasted up to the present day.

 I have had friendships that were seasonal.

We were in the right place and we had much in common.

What brings people together?

Kids

Marriage

Life situations

Common ground

and more!

I love when a connection that was great a long time ago

takes a life break

and then

when you connect again

it's like you just talked

the day before!

Sometimes the loss of being in touch

is from

circumstances

distance

 or something else.

Social media is a great 'connector'

of all things past

like relationships
and friendships.

What I love about Facebook specifically
is that

no matter where you live

you can still have a

connection.

I have many friendships
via social media.

We have never met

We only 'connect' via the internet.

I remember the days when you wrote a letter.

I still get a monthly letter
from my dear Aunt.

I'll have to call for awhile
as she can't write at the moment -

but it's still nice
to get a letter in the mail.

I have a friend that I first connected with via a

'Friendship Booklet'

We would put our mailing labels on a blank page

share our birthday

share our anniversary

our hobbies.

Then, mail them out with letters

and they'd go all around the country.

I have had pen pals from all over

Including Japan, New Zealand,

Germany and Ireland

 Back in the 1990's though.

We've lost touch awhile ago.

Today

we are face-to-face

'dis-connected'

and

'connected'

with

Facebook

Twitter

Google+

Instagram

Tumbler

Pinterest

and the list goes on!

Connections

However they are accomplished

Allows us to know others

Allows us to share ideas

Allows us to 'connect'

Have a great connected day!!

The Back Pack

The Back Pack

I love going hiking!  When I pack for a trip - 
I know that I carry more items than I will need or use - 
but I want to be prepared for anything!

You know, I was thinking about that the other day.

Have you ever thought how you carry your own

personal Back Pack?

I mean the back pack you strap on and 
never really take off for long periods of time.

The pack that is full of your past hurts, 
past insecurities, 
your past desires that were never fulfilled.

The pack that is full of the stuff 
you should be letting go of - 
but you keep carrying it anyway.

What about someone else's back pack?

Is theirs lighter than yours?

Are their hurts less hurtful?

Are their insecurities less than yours?

Do they also carry their past wherever they go?

I had a real view of this when I watched a skit 
performed at a Ladies retreat.

It started with a lady coming down the isle with her children and the narrator was speaking her thoughts.

She was focused on the children, 
and looking around and thinking thoughts 
that had nothing to do with worship 
or why she was there.

Then, she was thinking 
that she'd like to be other 
people in her congregation.

In doing so, God showed her 
their specific burdens.

She realized that even though 
we all put on a great outside front, 
everyone is dealing with something!

It might not be the same as our own 

However, 
it's still a heavy load for them.

A back pack is a symbol of all those emotions.  

It gets heavier the longer we carry it.

It gets harder to go forward 
because we're so heavily weighed down.

I laughed when Julia Roberts fell backwards 
in 'Runaway Bride'.
The scene when her boyfriend 
put her hiking back pack on. 

It was packed way too heavy 
for her to handle 

and it took her down fast!

I know in life, we try to be kind.

Some days though - 
our own burdens challenge us.

They start to change us - 

to weigh us down - 

they have a tendency some days 

to totally knock us off our feet!

Sometimes talking to a close friend 
in a similar place 
releases some of the burden.

Sometimes writing it down in a journal 
will purge 

it for a moment 
out of your mind.

When you are in the dark period - 

you want a lighter load.

You want to lay your burden down -

and leave it there forever.

But when you get socked again by emotions, 
or situations 
you end up stuffing it 
further down 
and then

you pick that pack back up 
and strap it on.

You become the hurt person 

You become the angry person

 You become who you don't like very much!

It filters into your friendships,

your relationships, 
your work place.

So what is the solution?

Everyone has a different approach.

Some go off alone and sort it all out.

Some talk to someone who truly listens to them.

Others can't figure it out -

So they keep their backpack on.

I guess in it all - 

we all are battling 
something.
Many times though
we don't feel safe
to share our deepest
fears, hurts, secrets.

I am working on 
leaving my backpack off my back.

It makes me tired.

It makes me have to be stronger 
than I feel that I am.

So, if you meet someone who's still 
weighed down by their personal back pack...

just be kind!
Help them carry their burden
if you can!