Filling One Another’s Gaps

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

“What did you think of the verdict?” I asked one of my dearest friends during our rambling lunchtime phone conversation on a random Tuesday afternoon.

“Oh, yes. Let’s talk about that verdict.”

And we did. She is my sister in Christ, a fellow attorney, and a woman of color. I knew the outcome of the trial, with its complicated undertones of racism, would lead to a thoughtful, nuanced conversation about complex issues.

I listened as she shared her perspective on a case that had been making headlines for over a year before the hotly debated, nationally publicized trial. I was seeking a deeper understanding of some of the whys behind her viewpoint that hadn’t necessarily been a part of my own analysis.

As we talked, we analyzed the situation as lawyers but also as women who love Jesus. We carefully teased out areas where our legal system continues to be inequitable in important ways, and we methodically dissected flawed arguments, looking for biblical truth without the taint of propaganda—on either side.

One aspect of our friendship I am most grateful for is our ability to talk about the big and small, simple and complex. In the same conversation, we chortle over something silly, then discuss a situation that brings tears to our eyes. I love her and want to hear her perspective and experiences precisely because they are different from mine, and she’d say the same about me. Because we come from different subcultures and backgrounds, we fill in each other’s knowledge gaps, trusting each other enough to be emotionally vulnerable, knowing we won’t simply dismiss the other’s viewpoint. I am a wiser, more compassionate woman because of our mutual willingness to wrestle with the thorniest of topics, looking for Jesus in the midst of it all.

Julie

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Who fills your knowledge gaps, giving you insight or a fresh perspective precisely because of the differences in your background and life? Send that person a thank-you, even as you prayerfully ask God to send you more knowledge-gap-filling friends.