Friendship

            In these Facebook days, the idea of what a friend is has been quickly evolving. Nowadays, a friend is anyone whom we feel comfortable seeing our profile page. Of course, that is hardly the definition of a friend, let alone an acquaintance. I have even heard a research report suggest that the number of real friends that Americans have is actually shrinking as the digital age progresses. Now, I don’t expect that friendship will disappear completely, though, because we are designed to need contact with others and we become depressed and anxious without it.

            Although we may be created for human interaction, that should not suggest that friendship will always feel natural. Friendship is difficult. It is hard to be a good friend and it is hard to find a good friend. Friendship means that we keep someone alive in our heart; they exist for us even while we are away from them. In keeping them alive in our minds, we are pressed into action: to pray for them, to call them, and to be of service for them when they are in need. To be a friend means that we are continually in debt to love someone more than they might love us in return.

            Today, I challenge you to think of someone with whom you have lost touch. Pray for them and perhaps even call them on the phone (much better than sending a text, by the way). You may actually find that, despite the lack of contact, they may just enjoy the fact that you have thought of them.