though you hit me hard i come back...

stength is an interesting concept. you see i had a conversation tonight with a friend and like most christians she thinks that she should distance herself from those who might be considered bad influences. i dont disrespect her for choosing to live life and be around good influences, i like to be around people who encourage me also, but i guess sometimes i wonder who are we supposed to encourage if we only try to be around those who encourage us. strength was the topic because i said that i like to be around people who arent christian or religioous. and i think that i can think about those relationships without being discouraged or *brought down*. i dont think that i am stronger or more capable of avoiding sin or struggle but i think that we are able to have relationships that we are teh stronger person in. i think that this is the beauty of being a christian the fact that we can rely on christ to be our strength and our center. also my sister said something that was in an unrelated conversation and it stuck with me and i think that it was perfect for this conversation i just didnt make the conection until now. she said that at teh greek orthodox church the greet eachother and think of eachother as icons. (icons are the pictures of the saints. they think of people as icons becuase we are created in teh image of God. i like that idea and i think that i love you becuase i can see something divine in you.) its tough to be home and i am ready to leave though i love my family i am ready to miss them. i guess the grass is always greener. just som thoughts.