Zoe Hatcher's Blog

This new series on relationships has got me thinking. I know that I can be a hermit if I really want to. If given the choice, I would just stay home cooking or something... Never venturing out into the world where I would have to rub shoulders with people. People who annoy me, challenge me, tire me or embarrass me. But then there are the people that I love, people who love me, challenge me, delight me and encourage me. Ahh... It's a struggle... Wouldn't it be nice, I say to myself, to not have to deal with people. To just hide in my hole and only come out once a year to cheers like a groundhog. I think I get it honest. From my own selfish human nature and from my family. I have family and friends that prefer to live alone, and to bring anyone into that equation is always disastrous. To adjust to someone else's idiosyncrasies is always tough. Usually you can get through that if you love the person. But it's the flip side that can get to me. The fact that other people have to deal with me and that they might not like what they have to deal with. I mean, really, if I'm annoyed with other people, I know they're going to be annoyed by me. Rejection... Putting yourself out there with all fear of being shot down, ignored or not liked. Not liked. There are probably some people I just don't like. I can't think of many. But to think I could be that person for someone else... Scary... It's really quite controlling, I guess. To assume that I should always be liked by everyone. I guess the bad thing would be disliked by someone I like very much. It's all very middle school. That's where rejection has a real face on it. I was picked on quite a bit, but who wasn't? It was ok to not be liked by the jerk that called me "Egor", but when one of my friends joined in... Oh... Straight to the heart... So I guess from that point we either shake it off, mature and say, "oh well, their loss." Or we crawl into a hole. I've heard hell described as a state devoid of relationships. With people and most importantly God. People can get on my nerves, but could you imagine, never, ever being known. The knowledge that comes from putting yourself out there, and someone else putting themselves out there, and you're accepted. And they're accepted by you. It's a beautiful thing. And I'm blessed to have experienced it. Relationships can hurt, but they can be the most precious thing you'll ever experience. I guess in the end, I would rather have a few scraped knees and busted lips in the relationship arena, knowing that when I leave the ring, there's no loss, I'm loved. I've risked and loved and some one's loved me and God loves me...

What a great God we serve! Josh isn't the only one he gave writing talent to in your family! You write a very interesting blog. Keep up the good work.