I'm Sick and that's a good thing?

I have discovered something new about college life. When your roommate is sick, you might as well go out and buy some meds because it's only a matter of time before you're doing homework in your pajamas surrounded by a pile of Kleenex. Now, each of the four of us that live in the same room are at different stages of the sickness: one is about over it; one is at the peak with a fever; I've got a stuffy nose, soar throat, and a headache; and the last one is just starting to get it.

The funny thing is, as roommates, we've bonded a whole lot more while we're sick than when we weren't. It's been in our weakness that we have had the humility and the necessity to reach out to to each other - even if that just means asking for a tissue. We also all have something to connect over now. We have a point of brokenness to connect over. In this case, we just complain about our symptoms and remind each other to get rest, drink water, and take meds, but can you already begin to see the parallels here?

Last night, a good friend of mine brought up an absolutely awesome point. One of the big reasons that we as humans are able to connect is because we are all broken. We're able to connect over our pain. That's why tragedies were (and still are) such a big deal with Shakespearean plays. We grow so much closer through our sadness. I've noticed that there's kind of two different ways that we relate in terms of our pain: either because we have done something we regret, or because we have experienced some kind of pain outside of our control.

Last night, while our little group just sat around and chatted, we talked about the mistakes we've made and the pain we've felt, and we were able to uplift and encourage each other. It's so awesome to be able to have friends around you that you can share your mistakes and pain with and feel completely vulnerable around. I don't know what it is, but there is an awesomeness in being vulnerable before someone.

A few scriptures jump out at me when thinking about this subject:

You keep track of all my sorrows.
     You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
     You have recorded each one in your book
Psalm 56:8 (NLT)

This verse reminds me that with Christ we don't even have to list our sorrows because He already knows them and keeps them on record. He cares so much that He remembers every single thing that has happened to us.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.
Hebrews 4:13 (NLT)

Not only does He know everything that has happened to us, but He knows everything we've done. There's no way that we can hide from Him.

The coolest part:

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

2 Corinthians 12:9a(NIV)

His grace is enough to completely forgive us! Plus, just like we can grow closer to others through our sorrow or our sickness, it's our vulnerability before the Lord that shows us just how powerful He is. And that is an amazing feeling.

I hope this was an encouragement to you and that you can experience the truly freeing feeling of opening yourself up before people, and more importantly, God.
Best of luck in the real world and God Bless,
XTopher