I learned many things in college. One expects to, of course, but I found I learned as much outside of the classroom and books, as inside. One of my most important lessons came through my roommate, Karli.
Karli and I were roommate my first full year away at school and were from very different backgrounds, as well as personalities. Early on, we had a fairly bitter argument over doctrines of the end times. I realized later that our ignorance made us passionate about our own view. Our fear of losing made us dogmatic without reason.
Thankfully, it did not take us too long to realize that the doctrines we clung to had valid points on both sides and wishing our own viewpoint to be the truth did not make us right. We agreed on the essentials that Scripture makes black and white--Jesus: God's Son, our Saviour. We agreed He is coming again at an unknown hour to take us Home, if we are His and remain alive. And, we discovered, that it was our hearts and our love for one another that He cared for more than whether the I's were dotted correctly and our T's crossed.
We remained roommates till we graduated. One of the things I admire most about Karli is her open, loving heart. I still have lessons from her I need to learn today, but am thankful for those years and the lesson to not let the little things divide what the essential truths in Jesus would unite.
Thank you, Katy; that is such a beautiful tribute. But I also remember your graciousness, patience, and compassion as being a key factor in our friendship not only being possible, but a dear blessing to me. God used us both, I guess to be a reminder to each other of His will for the unity of the church. I love you, my dear friend.
ReplyDeleteKarla
I don't remember that about me, Karli, but I hope it was true in some way. Most of my memories are of the fun we had, esp. the last semester. I think our early on disagreements made us closer at the end.
ReplyDeleteI love you too, my friend!
Kate