Learning through Each Other

A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel...Proverbs 1:5

I think as humans, we are taught that we can do everything by ourselves, it's called independence right?   What I've always tried to figure out is relationships then.  What are they for?  Well, I believe that God placed us on Earth together to learn from and lean on each other. 

In Genesis 2:18, The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.

I struggled with this for a long time.  I wanted to be the do all, know all in my life.  I even turned away from my Faith in these times.  But, I'm back.  As one of my favorite talk show hosts Dr. Phil Says.....How's that working for you?  The answer is....not well.  I always thought that depending on others meant a sign of weakness.

However, in the past 1-2 years, I realized, I can't function alone.  I have to have others.

Here's the other struggles I've had with my Faith.  The Why's.  Why did I get Bipolar?  How come I have high social anxiety?  What about Diabetes, why did it have to be me?

I believe that we are all given different experiences so we can be brought together to learn.  No matter what hand we are dealt, it could help someone else.

Recently, I have had 2 experiences that have tested my fears.  One was a inner-church women's retreat.  At it, we were split into groups of 3-4 with total strangers.  Big time smack in my social anxiety self.  But, I spoke up and said within the group, this is really uncomfortable for me.  I struggle in social situations.  And you know what, I wasn't judged.  I made a couple of great friends that day.  They all said they admired my honesty.  What?  Admired something I did?  Once I got it out, I really got it out, we all opened up and I learned so much from them.  Without that authenticity, I don't know what the experience would have been like.

The second of these experiences is in my small group.  For years, I have searched for a group of people I could really connect and experience faith with.  What I found is I haven't always been the most receptive person either.  But, finally I found a group of women I can trust.  Here is where the trust came into play.  Sometimes, I really struggle pushing through social anxiety.  Sometimes, like EVERY Thursday which is small group night.  You know how easy it has been to find excuses.  Well, pretty darn easy.  Anyhow, today, just today, I decided to fess up to my behaviors.  I wrote a short email to the leader and the others.  In it I told them of my struggle and how I loved that I had finally found a group of truly genuine women.  That it is still very hard for me to push through the door and show up.  But, I couldn't do it without knowing that I'm in a judge free zone.  I really feel like I needed to be real about what I had going on.

I guess my overall point is that you never know what something you say, do, or have learned can help others.  So, as hard as it can be, make baby steps to put yourself out there.  It will be ok.  God's got your back.

Take care and God Bless!