Friendships

As I contemplate 51 years on this planet the first thing that came to my mind are the friendships that have enriched my life. For all the time I spent working to accumulate STUFF - not a single posession I have ever owned came to my mind. Cars, motorcycles, houses and land haven't left even the smallest dent on my memory, but the people I have known, loved and shared life with are my most treasured posessions.

When I got up this morning I opened my Facebook account to a host of "Happy Birthday" notices from friends past and present. Each little icon with a picture of a friendship I made brought back fond memories of a rich and full life. All too often we take those things for granted.

Darlene, the little girl who lived next door as a child. My first childhood sweetheart and the girl who saved my life when I was four. Joe, my friend through most of my grade-school years. We lost touch for over a decade before reconnecting a few years back. Jim, my college room mate, friend and hiking buddy. The people in towns where I preached, the touch-points with people on mission trips, the romances and heartaches life all included people and not things.

I have bought and sold STUFF my whole life. Things I thought I had to have ended up in garage sales or the trash can. Cars that I thought defined me instead brought debt, frustration, and disappointment. The latest electronics that were essential to business success are now outdated and sitting in a drawer somewhere, but my friends endure and enrich my life. Like a fine wine their value increases each and every year. No investment in my life has brought greater returns than those people I call my friends.

So as I contemplate being 51 - today is not about me, but about each of you who have made my life better. Thank you and God bless you!

Friendships Past

I was recently reminded why God gives us friends and encourages us to build relationships. There are so many positive elements in life that come from even the most casual inter-actions.

I recently had an opportunity to catch up with friends I haven't seen in 30 years - it was as if time stood still. We all looked fabulous (thanks to fading vision), and we all had some great stories to tell.

So on the lighter side of today's blogopshere, here are some lessons from friendships past.

1. The Stories! Even those that have been embelished with time are fun to recount. So many smiles, so many crazy times, so much fun to remember. All someone has to say is, "Do you remember when . . ." and the lies and fabrications start to fly (at least as they pertain to things I allegedly participated in).

2. You can't run away from your past. There are so many things that I thought had faded away with the passage of time - until I cross paths with my past. Embarrasing moments, the first kiss (oh, those are the same?), pranks and practical jokes; just more of those "do you remember when moments."

3. You have somewhere to run to. One thing we all have in common is a history. Sometimes it is a beautiful manifestation of your great accomplishments, other times its the bitter tragedy of defeat. As I have walked with and watched the lives of my old friends, it is amazing how quickly we all come to the aid of one another. A spare bedroom, a word of encouragement, and emotional support are always available. In these cases the words, "if you ever need anything" really do matter.

4. There are little pieces of ourselves scattered across the globe. Our connection sand inter-actions with others changes their lives (hopefully for the better). Wherever we go, whoever we meet, the lives we touch are changed forever.

5. Friendships bring moments of deeper contemplation. There are all those "what if" moments. What if I would have pursued this relationship, or what if I had never met that person? It gives us a chance to see how our lives have changed and rumenate about what might have been.

So on this Friday, April 9, 2010 I offer a toast to all my old friends (and those I have yet to make). May your life be filled with friendships that encourage, uplift and restore your soul. May you walk in the light of blessed relationships and live in the sunshine of friendships past and present.