Old Things and Relationships

He said it so succinctly. "You like old things and relationships."

His simple declaration caught me off guard. 

The successful-educated-accomplished Me wanted to jump up and prattle on about what I've done, where I've been and who I know. But, the humble-authentic-imperfect Me embraced this awkward revelation and responded, "You're right! I like old things and relationships."

Old things. The older the better. 

My experiences in the Middle East changed my definition of old. The first time I saw a 5,000 year old altar, I was hooked. The addiction rooted deeply within me as I stumbled through the streets of the Old City of Jerusalem, choked on the dust and sand of archaeological digs and sweated in the mid-day sun at the Dead Sea. A whole new world opened to me. God was more real. So, I began to explore the rich history of the Bible and discover how God knit us together in a whole new way. 

Yes, I like old things.

Relationships.

Before I was 30, I didn't pay much attention to my own hurts, habits and hang-ups. So, relationships were more like train wrecks. It was easier for me to blame others for relational failures than to take responsibility for my own relational health. After all, growing up in the 80's taught me that it was all my parent's fault, right? Wrong! Healthy relationships require a lot of hard work. But our investment in becoming better at being relational reaps huge rewards!

Yes, I like relationships. 

But, I like learning most of all. 

After picking up the pieces from a relationship disaster, I did some soul-searching and made the decision to get a dog from the Humane Society. She was a beagel and her name was Mulligan. I needed to learn how to become more relationally responsible with less wreckage. Over the years, I learned a lot about myself as I stumbled around my own Old City, choked on the dust my own personal excavation and sweated through my own relational Wilderness. 

A whole new world was revealed to me. God opened my heart and unveiled a wide new vista that demanded a commitment of life-long learning. I made a personal commitment to follow Jesus when I was 13. But, at 30 years of age, I began to explore more deeply what it meant to be in relationship with Him. I set out to learn how to value what He valued and I discovered something I didn't expect. 

He valued me. 

God valued me? 

Me. 

God valued me! And that, my friend....has made all the difference.

Take a few minutes and look around you. What would my friend succinctly say about you? What do you value?