Note: On Saturdays, you can find me at Your Daily Tripod, owned by my friend TonyD. A longer version of the post below appears there.
When I was in my early teens, I had a best friend. But we ended up in different homerooms the following year, and only saw each other for a class or two. She grew closer to two other girls than she was to me. When I blew up over some minor thing, she called me and apologized. But I didn’t accept, and didn’t say so much as a hello to her for nearly a year. It eventually worked out without another conversation about whatever the specific issue was. But we were never as close again.
Jealousy is a soul-sucking thing. It is also a thief, robbing us of companionship and love. I like to think that Peter realized that once the Holy Spirit descended. I like to think Peter realized that while Jesus had a special connection with John, the beloved disciple, He also had a special connection with Peter—and with Andrew, and with Matthew, and so on and so on and so on throughout the centuries. His connection isn’t based on physical appearance or worldly wealth or brainpower. It’s based on a sincere, unique love for each and every one of us, if we’re willing to embrace it.
It’s kind of like that friendship I blew away over jealousy, but different in a very important way. As I said, our friendship recovered, but it was never the same again. With Jesus, when we express the error of our ways and seek His help, the relationship is well on the way to being richer and deeper than it was before.
