TMZ: Brother

Life is hard. It’s an unfortunate reality that my 24-year-old brain is only still just beginning to grasp.

Thankfully, we don’t have to walk this road alone. And that’s where my role as brother enters this blog.

When I describe myself as a “brother,” yes, I am indeed a blood-related brother to two fantastic scratching/crying siblings. (But as I said in my last post, they’re both cool now.)

But I also like to think of myself as a brother in the overarching, spiritual sense — to fellow believers in Christ, and indeed, to fellow human beings the world over.

In short, I’m Desmond from LOST.

I’m an introvert, and I don’t know exactly how other introverts operate because we’re all so very different, but brotherhood and connection with others is something I struggle with on a daily basis. Since I definitely recharge during solitary times of writing and running, the temptation to remain alone beckons me as the ideal way to do life. It’s safer, it’s less messy, it’s natural.

It’s not.

Human beings were wired for connection. “It is not good that man should be alone” (Gen. 2:18). Indeed, I can only take so much alone time before I start to go bonkers.

A huge challenge for me right now is transitioning from a three-month summer stint in Milwaukee during which I was constantly surrounded by an incredible team of believers and had the daily opportunity to minister to both youth and community members, believers and non-believers alike.

And now Milwaukee is but a distant memory, a passed cloud overhead.

When I was brainstorming some topical words for this blog, I knew I couldn’t leave out “brother” for that ever-important relational aspect of my life. But I was hesitant to include it, because I do struggle with brotherhood — something I’ll surely elaborate more on one of these upcoming Struggle Sundays.

As far as this blog goes, “brother” posts will simply spotlight my interactions with the human race. Kinda like some of my “observer” posts, except with an interactive element beyond being the creepy stalker dude with a pen and pad.

Maybe I’ll have some blog-worthy interaction with the local Panera cashier someday. Or perhaps something mind-blowing will occur during a tutoring session at one of my student’s houses. Or maybe I’ll experience a life-changing — or mundane — moment with a dear friend that I simply must share.

As I said in my “observer” intro post, the human story fascinates me. I want to know about that Panera cashier. Or my students. Or my friends and family. Regarding loved ones and strangers alike, we need to be brothers (and sisters, if that’s your thing) to a world greatly in need of love.

I’ll eventually blog more about my life-changing summer in Milwaukee, but something I certainly gained there is a greater desire to interact with and impact this world with the story I’ve been given. It may not be much, but it’s something. I’m something.

I’m your brother.