the tune of neglect (or) the definition of REDEEM

this summer has absolutely FLOWN by.

It's been (mostly) fantastic, busy, and full of weddings (2 more since the last time I blogged. I got a photo-radar ticket coming home from one, which just made it all the more "fun" .... )

As I was sitting here this morning, I realized that I've let my blog fall into neglect. And then, as I was reflecting on that, I realized that neglect has been the tune of my summer.

I haven't been on blogger in almost a month. I almost forgot to pay my registration confirmation at the UofA. I moved, and there are still boxes littering my kitchen and living room. I haven't hung out with friends in FOREVER. I haven't even finished a book this summer! And I've only been camping once.

Recently, God gave me a prayer for one of my relationships which seems to be in the middle of neglect and total annihilation:

Lord God, have mercy and redeem this relationship.

And then I started to think really hard about what 'redeeming' really means.

Yes, it means all the wonderful things that Christians attatch to it; all those complicated definitions about being bought and paid for. But what would it look like if God redeemed a relationship? The two didn't seem to match up.

In the process of pondering these things, I dug out my paper-back dictionary (out of a box). And at the very bottom of the definition, came this:

redeem - to convert into something of value

Which is really profound, if you think about it. This definition applies to everything. From redeeming a coupon at Save-On-Foods to what the Holy Spirit is doing in my heart, and what Jesus did on the cross.

He's changing me into something of value.

And it's a continuing work.

And it added something tangible to my prayer. I can practically ask God to transform this relationship into something of value.

I pray that redemption would be the tune, not only of this friendship, but also as the summer ends, and school begins.

I'm tired of the tune of neglect.