Giants

Someone said today "When I stand among giants, I feel taller." I thought that was such a great statement. She was talking about surrounding yourself with people that are further along than you- that have something you want in your own life but haven't quite got yet. And I thought how often this has the opposite affect. When you are around people with more money- you get envious. More in shape- you get depressed. More knowledge- you feel foolish.
But when someone has more Jesus- that's a different story. I said more Jesus, though, not more religion. Religion is suffocating and oppressive and makes you feel guilty and worthless. But having more Jesus really just translates to having more freedom- and we always want more of that when we see it. We were created to be free- precisely why the Tree of Life was smack dab in the middle of the garden. The devil didn't put it there- God did. Because He knew if we couldn't choose, it wasn't really love. The whole basis of our life and relationship with Him is freedom- before us is life and death, blessing and curse- but it is always our choice.
And being around people that consistently choose life makes you want to choose it more for yourself. Because they don't choose Him out of obligation or guilt- they choose Him out of love. They realized that they were meant for freedom and He was the only One who loved them enough to give them theirs. So I will stand a little taller among the giants I am lucky enough to know.