Ironhand Incorporated

I have had a handful of friends that have, in the past, struggled with the problem of cutting themselves. It makes me sad and I don’t understand it. I sympathize with people who have experienced it and I wish them the best in overcoming it.

THAT BEING SAID, I absolutely HATE the “To Write Love on Her Arms” company. Anyone and everyone who’s packing an emo swoop, skinny jeans and a studded belt seems to be sporting a fancy “Love Movement” sweatshirt, tanktop, bracelet, keychain, you name it. Why? because stores like Hot Topic have begun stocking these items and the hardest of hardcore kids who rock every Tim Burton movie t-shirt that comes into that store have completely latched onto the franchise like moths to the flame. They purchase the TWLOHA clothing as a right of passage. You’re not an screamo kid unless you have one and put it on for your myspace photos.

Something that’s real and harmful and hurtful has now been turned into the new TOMS shoes (I make that remark even though I wear them). It’s trivialized in order for kids to show everyone their sensitive side. 

It makes me wonder what is going through these kids’ minds when they make that first purchase.

I’m not mocking the ISSUE in anyway. The franchise? yes, I hate it. I think it’s trite and ignorant. And that day where everyone writes love on their arms and takes pictures of it and puts it on myspace and facebook? yeah, I hate that too. More so, I hate when somebody comes up to me on that God forsaken day and tries to be cute by writing love on MY arm. So don’t ever do it :-P

I had a nice car ride with a good friend of mine a few weeks ago. We hadn’t talked in a while so we had some pretty nice conversation on the way to our buddy’s bachelor party. I don’t remember how we got on the topic, but we started talking about various friendships that we both had and problems that we had encountered with people that we thought that we were relatively close to. I recently (earlier this year), had some troubles with some one that I trusted. I thought that our friendship was pretty steadfast but one misunderstanding blew the thing out of the water.

My attitude after this happened was that the friendship was over and that I wanted absolutely no association with this person ever again. That was probably an overreaction, but still, I was pretty hurt.

When I told my buddy this as we drove to New Jersey together, he said, “Tristan, I try to be careful to never close the door on a friendship. People will hurt you and disappoint you time and time again, but that’s human nature for ya. I see friendships as one of the only things that we can count on in this life. Other than our relationship with Christ, our relationships with other believers is basically the only thing that will last until the end of time.” So why should we so flagrantly say that a friendship is down the tubes? When he told me that, it opened my eyes to a new perspective.

Several times in my life, I’ve been guilty of calling it quits with some one who bugged me in one way or another. But, when I’ve had time to cool off and think about the situation (in some cases, for a year or so), I’ve realized that there are better solutions. 

Now I’m thinking to myself, why not resolve these conflicts? It just causes me more grief and loses me sleep when I stew over petty fights. And now I’m regretting these times when I’ve shut the door on friendships that, in the past, have meant so much to me at one time or another.

My friend was right. Friendships are one of the ONLY things that possess the capacity to not fade away. They change, and yes that’s human nature. People change, so naturally, their relationships change too. But we as believers will spend eternity in fellowship with one another and with Christ.

So maybe Michael W. Smith was right when he said that a friend’s a friend forever if the Lord’s the Lord of them. cheeeeeeeeesyyyyy, but still. Pretty true.

So I’m spending all of this time worrying about superficial crap that’s going to get me where? nowhere. I often try to remind myself of the scriptural truth that the things of this world will pass away and in the end, there is only Jesus.

Don’t be so quick to close those doors. We’re not supposed to be alone. I go crazy if I don’t have a close friend to talk to. Other people can handle it better, yeah, but friendships aren’t worthless (well, some of them might be. kids who run around making fifty “BFF’s” but never really spending time on any of them. yeah, I hate that.).

Thanks to my buddy for enlightening me. I’m not proofing this so I don’t know how it will read.

(BFF’s)

I feel like I make a mess out of everything.

I feel like maybe I should be wearing a straight jacket.

I feel like everything blows up in my face.

Today is a Jonah Day.

So my friend Nikki introduced me to the wonderful hobby of geocaching and I think you all should look it up and try it out. We’ve already found five today. I’m officially obsessed with this activity. Move over nicholas cage!