“I only really understand myself, what I’m really thinking and feeling, when I’ve talked it over with my circle of female friends …..
When days go by without that connection, I feel like a radio playing in an empty room” ____Anna Quindlin
I thought about this quote and insert the spiritual truth involved.
I only understand myself what I’m really thinking and feelings, when I’v talked it over with the Holy Spirit.
thedailylily.com 
When I first read it, I witnessed to the original quotation by Anna Quindlin. It’s is true that I do bounce off my dear Christian famale friends, descriptions of different scenarios that pop up in my life; things I read about and circumstances that arise in which I seek opinion and/or counsel. Sara is one of my canstant “Bouncees”. But then I thought about it and realized that for the most part I seek wisdom from her because I know that she has the Holy Spirit’s view on things that assail us in our Christian walk. Even things that seem less important like styles or conduct, or perspectives or perceptions.
The Holy Spirit is available to all of us who love and serve the Living God, Jesus Christ. If we really want to know ourselves and see ourselves as God does, just ask the Holy Spirit Who knows us better than we know ourselves and lives within our spirits. He can reaveal everything tthat we want to know about ourselves. We can become wise by Listening and consulting with Him at all times. That’s what Sara does. 🙂
Great quote and of course an honored privilege to have a circle of friends to talk life’s challenges over with. When we seek counsel from the Holy Spirit I would think one of the very best ways He would impart answers and wisdom would be through a circle of friends. I love the way Quindlin calls it connections. I love the special times we have those moments of powerful connections.
As we celebrate Christmas I am reminded that Jesus is our counsellor. No, He is our wonderful counsellor. Mighty God is He. As Christians we sure have the whole package.
She says, “When days go by without that connection, I feel like a radio playing in an empty room” Dosen’t feel that way when we have a wonderful counsellor to talk things over with.
That’s so true. Connections mean everything. When the Lord God told Adam & Eve to go forth & multiply we all understand that He meant to propagate and populate the earth. But….also, we can take it a step further and say that when we make connections, associations, relationships, partnerships and networking we do it mainly for the purpose of propagating the faith, too. HE also said ‘go forth into all the earth and preach the Gospel..the plan of salvation, tell them about ME. He doesn’t want us to be “radios” playing into vacuous air. We need to make connections to be able to share the Faith with someone; to preach the Word to someone; to introduce someone to the CHRIST. We need to make connections in this world to do the work of the Kingdom.
Sometimes that friend connection may be something other than what we expected. I am reminded of this scripture….
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17.
Now that iron is making a connection with another iron. Although not gentle…the very character of its abrasiveness is what helps form our character and uncover things we cannot see or don’t want to face about ourselves. That kind of friendship connection is truly loving and valuable.
This quote reminds me how safe we are in the multitude of counsellors. Proverbs 24:6 “For by wise counsel you shall make your war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.” Anna in her quote above says she understands herself and her feelings when she talks her life over with a circle of friends. The writer of Proverbs must have gotten through to her.
Paul says we see in a glass darkly. But with a faithful circle of friends we get to see reflections that we might be blind to, in and/or by ourselves, as Debi intimated above.
The Bible says to look into the Word of God as in a mirror. Sometimes we get to see ourselves when our sister or brother in Christ behaves or reacts or responds in an uncomely manner. We get to see oursleves, in them. That’s how we look when we behave badly, and worse! We shrink from their bad behavior but make excuses for our own. But in a circle of true friends we are safe to discover and deal with those things that Paul admonishes us about in Ephesians to “put on the new naturea created in GOD’S IMAGE. Reject falsity (especially about ourselves) and express truth to one another ( in your circle of true friends) in godliness and holiness….. considering your approach so that you will not become haughty in your admonishing of another in Christ. [ My paraphrase. ]
The MIRROR BIBLE says in Hebrews, “He, Christ, makes the glory, (intent) of God VISIBLE in RADIANT REFLECTION…”
Debi, thanks for sharing the above verse in Proverbs. (27:17) I’d like to share the footnotes for this verse, read with me: “Mental sharpness comes from being around good people. And a meeting of minds can help people see their ideas with new clarity, refine them, and shape them into brilliant insights. This requires partners who can challenge one another and stimulate thought–people who focus on the idea without involving their egos in the discussion; people who know how to attack the thought and not the thinker. Two friends who bring their ideas together can help each other become sharper.”
Yes Debi, “this kind of friendship connection is truly loving and valuable”.
Those are good footnotes Needles that help clarify the scripture and provide good insight and guidelines for healthy discussion. I like this part, “people who focus on the idea without involving their egos in the discussion”. I also think when unhealthy emotions get in the mix, it diminishes the effectiveness of the discussion.
MG this is a wonderful quote. It is so important to have a circle of Christian friends for support and councel. As I was reading this, I thought how careful we must be in choosing those friends that we receive advice from. Proverbs 15:22 “Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisors brign success.” FOOTNOTES: People with tunnel vision-those who are locked into one way of thinking- are likely to miss the right road because they have closed their minds to any new options. We need the help of those who can enlarge our vision and broaden our perspective. Seek out the advice of those who know you and have a wealth of experience. Build a network of advisers. Then be open to new ideas, and be willing to weigh their suggestions carefully. Your plans will be stronger and more likely to succeed. 2 Chronicles 22:4-5 “4 He did what was evil in the Lord sight, just as Ahab’s family had done. They even became his advisers after the death of his father, and led him to ruin. 5 Following their evil advice, Ahaziah joined King Joram, the son of King Ahab of Israel, in his war against King Hazael of Aram at Ramoth-gilead……” FOOTNOTES :Although it is wise to seek advice, we must also carefully weigh the advice we receive. Ahaziah had advisers, but they were wicked and led him to ruin. When you seek advice, listen carefully and use God’s Word to “test everything…..Hold on to what is good”(1 Thessalonians 5:21) When Christian friends give advice, they shouldn’t be offended if the advice is tested by the Word of God. They should be joyful in any correction that God’s Word may lead too. They should be grateful for a true Christian friend who is not only receiving wise advice but giving it back in love…. God’s love.
As I read this comment chickenfarmer,” People with tunnel vision-those who are locked into one way of thinking- are likely to miss the right road because they have closed their minds to any new options. We need the help of those who can enlarge our vision and broaden our perspective. Seek out the advice of those who know you and have a wealth of experience.”..I thought about our circle of friends. I think the most important One we can include and confide in is Jesus. If we close our minds to Him and His counsel we surely will have tunnel vision and blindness. Proverbs 18:24 lets me know He’s the kind of friend we all desire because He knows us intimately and has the best advice if we will listen and follow…a True Friend. ” A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”