People Are Weird

People are weird. They build me up. They let me down. They bring me joy. They break my heart. Humans are so unpredictable and mysterious. That’s why I love them.

I have a Chihuahua.

Dinky is very predictable. If I lower my voice and say, “Did you do that?” she cowers her head down to the ground and wags her tail as if to say, “Yes Master, I am so very sorry. Forgive me my Master.” Or, if I’ve been away for a while, as soon as she sees me, she immediately flips onto her back, tail moving at 100 mph she licks my hand over and over as I scratch her belly.

Suzan has never done that for me.

Sue and I have been married for 23 years. We’ve been together for 24 years. We actually had our first date 26 years ago. We’ve known one another for 30 years. All that time and we’re still figuring each other out. Isn’t that the beauty of people? They’re like a video game that never ends. We just go from level to level unlocking mysteries and discovering new adventure.

People are just the coolest.

Admittedly, I really hate some video games. I like Pac Man, Galaga, Centipede, Pong you know, real video games. Simple games like simple people are easy to handle. I don’t like these new fangled games that have ten different buttons. I can’t seem to get past the first level on any of them. My son on the other hand has these thumbs on steroids. He makes me look like I have arthritis. He makes me feel old. Well, older. But you know what? It really isn’t my age that keeps me from excelling at the complex games, it’s my priorities.

I’d rather spend my time doing simple things that I’m comfortable with. Of course, the challenge there is minimal—as is the growth.

So it is with people. In the past I’ve tended to avoid people who challenge me to think a little deeper, people who stretch my thinking, people who point out the things in my life that need to change. The older I get and the more set in my ways I get, the more I seem to resist change and the people who call for it. But I know this isn’t God’s will.

God designed us for community.

Proverbs 27:17 says,
As iron sharpens iron,
so, one man sharpens another.

We need each other, badly.

Check out this observation from Donald Miller’s new book Searching for God:

“...the times in my life when I have been the most happy haven’t been the times when I’ve had the most money or the most freedom or the most anything, but rather when I’ve been in love or in community or right with people.”

He goes on to describe how a good friend explains this phenomena:

“My friend at Bible college believes that the qualities that improve a person’s life are relational, relational to God and to the folks around us.”

This sounds familiar. Jesus said the whole point of the Christian faith is to love God and love people, including you.

We need people in our lives, all kinds, even the annoying ones. We need people that require us to grow in the fruits of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23 says,
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Jerks dare us to exercise self-control. The poor challenge us to exercise kindness. Your little sister requires you to grow in patience. You get the point. We were made for community. God shapes us through people.

So, don’t avoid people. Gather with them regularly. Make new friends often, friends who challenge you to change. Above all, don’t isolate yourself.

Proverbs 18:1
A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire;
He rages against all wise judgment.

Don’t get stuck in your ways. Let people in. Take the risk. People are unpredictable and mysterious, that’ why I love them!


(My buddy Sam says it helps to think of people like sit-com characters. Sometimes you just have to step outside the bubble and enjoy people for the characters they are. Honestly, humans are just the most awesome of all entertainments!)