Two is better than one

In the short years I've lived, I've learnt one thing (okay there's more than one thing, but you get my drift): having stuff and going through stuff is no fun when you have no one to share it with. And some stuff aren't fun to have but even such is better to bear when you've got company. Be honest, it feels good to offload your worst day at work on your friend, or your mom, or husband, or whoever you're blessed with. Point is, you have someone.

Been reading up on David lately, especially the time he was running for his life from Saul (1 Samuel 18 straight through till chapter 31 when Saul died, a very long time to be running). It was a very difficult time for David. Just after being in the spotlight for conquering Goliath, he realizes his "mentor" who had promoted him to a high rank in the army a chapter ago, is now burning with jealousy to the point of wanting him dead. That alone is something hard to swallow, number one fan gone serial killer, I'd be drowning deep in depression if I were him. Poor guy had to find a hiding place for his parents then head for the hills. He even had to act insane to stay alive at a point. Out of fear, he acted like a mad man in order not to be killed by the king of Gath who'd feel threatened by his presence. Amongst all this, David had a bosom friend who stuck closer than a brother.

"15 While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that Saul had come out to take his life. 16 And Saul's son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. 17 “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.” 18 The two of them made a covenant before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh. (1 Samuel 23)
Those are the best kind of people to have around you, the Jonathans'. These are the kind of people who'll leave where they are to come to the caves and deserts you're hiding in just to lift your spirit. And it's not always a physical move, it's merely them forgetting about their own issues for two minutes in order to help you with yours. These don't complain that you've strayed too far, or dug yourself too deep in a hole, they put on their yellow rubber gloves and jump right in.

But the kick with these folks is that they don't only come with their views and opinions, they come armed with the Sword of the Spirit. They're gonna speak life over you whether you like to hear it or not, they will prophesy your dead self back to life. They come with full knowledge of God's will for your life and speak it over you until you start believing it again, until you get it, they aren't going. Look at this guy's brilliance; he not only tells him what God promised, he also tells him what his enemy knows and feels, what a way to boost his confidence, or as I've heard it called these days: Godfidence.

I was first bothered by Jonathan leaving, but now I get it. He knew that the greatest he could do for David was to uplift him, whether he remained there or not wasn't such a biggy if David was alright inside. Remember this is the guy who single-handedly took down a three meter tall giant, Jonathan just had to fan the dying fire, and when he saw a revived spark he was good to go. He had to get back to his own chaotic life, Saul was his father after all.

So yeah, life is better lived when not lived alone. Having a car is no fun if you have no one to road-trip in it with, or maybe forcefully cause to drive. A big house gets lonely with no one shouting from the other room just because they're too lazy to come to where you are. And I'm sure having a lot of money starts becoming a bore when there's no one around to spend it with/on. The wise teacher observed this truth:
"There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth.
“For whom am I toiling,” he asked,
“and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?”
This too is meaningless— a miserable business!
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up."
Ecclesiastes 4:8-10

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