Friendship

If I have not written an entry under this title already, it has fallen under some other classification. I thank God every day for the friends that I have, and for the quality of my friendships. Friends truly help us through every trial, every difficult moment, and are always there to share the joys that may come in our lives. The Lord is to be thanked for every friend who has the patience to sit and try to understand what we are going through in our lives, and to help us to see the truth that lies at the heart of every situation in which we struggle. Without my friends, I would not be the person I am today, and tonight I was so fortunate to get to spend time with a good number of them all at once. Mike has been a great friend and inspiration to me, and he hosted a gathering of old friends and new, ones who have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and others that I am only beginning to come to know. There is something to levels in our relationships, and God has given each of us the ability to relate on so many different levels. Everyone can meet us at a different level, and I assure you that satisfaction, joy, and freedom are to be found in seeking that person with which you can share all things without ever feeling that you somehow need to hold back. Seek out that friend, and probe them, ask them questions, challenge them, and if they can take everything that you dish out, treasure them, stay in touch, always make the effort, for they have shown that they are willing to do as much for you. They will help guide you through the dark alleys of your life, which are sure to come. We are but sinners, and each one of us is destined to fall at some point. But there is always good in every situation, and your friends are the ones who will help you to find the good, to see the truth, and to work your way onward in life.

Sometimes these things are hard to put into words, but there are people who will see you better than others. Perhaps you will find this among your family members, perhaps among old friends in whom you never recognized it before, or even in new people that you happen upon in the journey of life. Be always open to these relationships and God will show you much more than you ever could have imagined possible in your life. Yes it is possible to control this, to constrain your friend base to only those you think you like, or with whom you think you share interests, but sometimes the best of friends are found in the most unlikely of places. Remember that your oldest friends may see you the best, but that new ones also have insights that the old ones could never recognize in you. Be open to any new path that opens to you, and your life can take extraordinary new directions that will teach you new things you never expected to learn, but that will somehow play a part in the journey that you lead in this life. Life is about asking questions, always seeking, always pushing the envelope to find those things in life that make us come alive, that make our lives worth living, that at the very least make us want to get out of bed in the morning and live the wonderful gift of life that we have each been given.

My friends are what so often do this for me. I have come to realize that my life is based on my relationships, and I could not ask for better friends than the good Lord has granted me along the way. We work so well together, and I never planned it a bit. Look deeply into the people that surround you, and thank the Lord for what He has given you.

I want to thank Andy and Lindsey, Mike, Jenna, my brothers and father, my mother, and all others of you, you know who you are, who have helped and continue to help me along the way. I could not have made it this far without you, and you are a part of every single stage in my life, and I hope that I share similarly in the lives that you lead. Know that no matter how long it takes for us to get in touch, when we do the Lord will let the love that we share shine between us, and the glory of friendship be rekindled again. We each must seek out our own path, but if ever we get lonely, we have only to turn back to those we love to realize just how blessed we truly are. Thank you to those I have mentioned to all of you who have so touched me in my short life. I hope to thank all of you again in person each time that we have the chance to see each other again. Until then, may God bless and keep you, and hold you in the palm of His hand.