It almost always happens the same way in my life. I go along thinking everything is great, and that I've really got it together, and then something happens that completely humbles me. I think what's most amazing is how quickly my pride recovers and starts me back up to a suitable height from which to fall again.
I'm at the post-humbling stage at this point. The humbling event isn't related to something I've done, it was just a vivid reminder to me of how dependent I am upon our Lord. It was also a reminder of why I'm supposed to hate sin, and a reminder that I wasn't hating sin the way I ought to.
For a little while now, I have been caught up in how well everything has been going. I was even congratulating myself on how I'm handling life. One day I'll be wise and realize where this behavior is taking me. As for now, God brought me back faithfully.
Today is my birthday, and in a bitter twist of irony I found that one of my friends has had their life unalterably changed by the consequence of sin. Part of me wonders where I failed them, and another part of me knows that in some ways I couldn't of done anything. I still can't help but feel that I didn't encourage them to love and good works the way the Bible requires us for our friends.
Among the lessons I've learned and hopefully will keep learning is that I do have a responsibility to those I number among my friends. I don't want to greive for another one the way I am now. Life can be painful, I just hope and pray that they are growing pains; and not the pain from a rotting wound.