Hey everyone, it’s Jacob back at it again with blog, the sequel. I sadly can’t describe my usual pour over for you today as I was out and about early before picking up catered coffee for a work event. I was up late last night so I’ve already had 4 small cups of this coffee that isn’t like what I normally prefer. One thing I’ve found myself saying a decent bit lately is that I’ve learned to tolerate a bad cup of coffee. And honestly, it’s not that the coffee I don’t drink is bad, it’s just not what I’m used to.
That is almost exactly how I described fellows so far to my prayer partner yesterday afternoon. See, fellows or apostles aren’t bad. Not at all. But they are different. And I feel like I’m experiencing a whole new side of my hometown that I never knew existed. It’s so easy to grow accustomed to our own little worlds that we live in that we can fail to recognize other points of view. And yet, sometimes that other point of view is exactly what we need.
This past weekend I was on the men’s retreat with Apostles and the speaker talked about male friendship from the lens of John 15. It’s funny cause John 15 is the passage Ashley helped us posture this year around and hearing her perspective on it was almost exactly like every other time I’ve heard it spoken upon in Bible studies, books, or via a mentor. However, this weekend’s speaker took a passage with which I was familiar and spun it in a way I’ve never considered it before. Almost exactly like how fellows has done for my views of Raleigh or Apostles has done for my views of the church. Just because something is different from what I know doesn’t mean it’s bad. Sometimes it’s good and actually quite necessary to our lives.
One thing I’ve loved about Apostles which has been incredibly reassuring is that a number of the passages or prayers I would recite out of habit I’ve heard shared by the pastors before a sermon or during liturgy. It’s been such a sweet affirmation from the Lord that where I am right now is the right place for me.
Funny enough from this weekend in Wilmington on Men’s Retreat I figured out that one of my best friends was there too for his brother’s Ironman. In my small group we talked through the reality of having friendships of the deepest kind and when I was asked if I have any friendships like that, I immediately thought of him. Like I could not shake memories of that friendship throughout that weekend’s sessions and he was probably not even a couple miles away from me that whole time. One of the questions from our small group breakouts asked what keeps you from developing deep friendships like that. I said such a genuine connection like that can only really grow from consistent time and proximity. And no slight on the fellows, but I don’t have such a friendship with any of them like that. After all, I didn’t know any of them two months ago. But that’s not to say we can’t get to that place though. It takes showing up for one another too. And I’ve been so incredibly encouraged by how the fellows are all showing up for one another so far.
Last month I got to visit my college town for that friend’s wedding. It was such a sweet time. There was a double rainbow during the reception which felt like such a blessing over their marriage and it’s genuinely one the best things I’ve ever seen. There was actually also a double rainbow over this summer the night I figured out about fellows and that feels like such an inclination that I’m in the right place. I don’t know what else to say, but I know I’m not done with this blog post yet.
Okay, and I’m back again for the second time and in this case it’s the next morning. Not much else to add, but I am sipping a light roast (shocker) anaerobic yeast fermented Nicaraguan coffee that I snagged while back in South Carolina. This bright cup reminds me of pineapple rinds, lemons, and stone fruits.
Now this blog feels complete, or at least good enough.