We don’t belong with those who don’t understand

For many years I never really understood what “birds of a feather flock together” really meant. I think it’s clear now, however.

When his disciples were tasked with spreading the mission of the Kingdom, Jesus told them to discern the houses they were invited into. If it were friendly to them, their peace could remain there. If it wasn’t, their peace was to return to them, and they would kick the dust of that place off their feet—those places weren’t for them.

Some of our biggest struggles occur when we mix with people who clearly aren’t on our wavelength. At its worst, we can feel very alone in this world, especially when someone we counted on and trusted proves again and again simply to not be on the same page.

They may not be able to understand, because they may not have our life experience. Perhaps it’s because their outlook on life is so vastly different, yet we’ve never picked up on this. It’s true that we should have a broad mix of friends, even some that ostensibly disagree with us, but birds of a feather flock together for a reason.

The friendships we choose that will deliver most support—both ways, because if it’s not both ways it’s not a friendship—will be those where there is implicit understanding.

Seek those friendships. It’s not wise to continue to try and influence a particular friend who may never agree with what we’re going through, because it’s not her or his experience. It’s not their philosophy for life.

Whatever is foreign to us, we struggle to understand.

We belong with persons and groups of people that GET us. It doesn’t mean we won’t benefit from being challenged by others, but if we know someone doesn’t comprehend our struggle, why would we seek them out for support?

Photo by travelnow.or.crylater on Unsplash