Many years ago I was reading a book. (Wow - not a very inspiring first sentence. I read a lot of books, but go with me on this one...) In this book the author encouraged his readers to cultivate joy mentors - people in your life who give you energy, who make you... more you. The phrase stuck with me. It stuck with me and it grew. It grew and the idea got mashed together with another word, another idea...
Who are my cymbrogis... my companions of the heart?
Yesterday I was trying to slog through a whole, terrifying list of administrative tasks, but every few hours I received a welcome interruption from not one but four of the people who fall into the mashed together category of joy mentoring and heart companionship. Some calls were practical, others philosophical, but one in particular left me with a unique feeling that only these people bring out in me.
A desire to be more myself.
That call came from my beautiful friend Charlotte. Charlotte is unique. There is no-one quite like her and no way to fully capture her in words. She is a force of nature, a catalyst, a friend. There is no holding this woman down. Recent months have not been the easiest in her life but as we chat about our days, weeks, months and thoughts we naturally fall into encouragement, honesty and reflection. She calls me out. She pieces together puzzles. She reminds me of what's gone and hints at what there could be to come. She states how God made me, the things He's put inside me and she prompts my tired mind to think in the context of eternity, hope and possibility. Charlotte makes me more Carla. And I think, in my own way, I make her more Charlotte. This is a precious friendship.
At the turn of the year I was reading another book, and as I thought about the beautiful Charlotte the words of that book came to mind. I went back through my journal until I found the place were I'd noted them down...
"In holiness we become the persons we were created to be..." Richard Foster
I love that idea - holiness is not something imposed from the outside in, not a set of rules, regulations or appearances; but a blossoming from within of the best that we are. All I need to do is present myself to God, (just as I am, warts and all) and allow him to nurture the buds and blossoms of my heart... to call me out.
Ah! Another book I've read just sprang to mind...
"Know that the Lord is God, It's He who made us, we are His..." Psalm 100:3
Oh dear... now I have Alan Partridge in my head... "Knowing me, knowing you... aha!" (This is a new low.) The closer I get to knowing more of Jesus, the closer I get to knowing more of who I am made to be, why I'm on this earth and what I have to give. Seems like God will use the Bible, and people, and the things I read, and the mistakes I make, all to transform me more fully into me. What a good me to be.