I never watched the show Friends, but my wife did and loved it. When she talks about that show, there is always a funny story, a memorable moment that came up. I know enough about the show to know that the name was appropriate because true friends, despite any differences, are always there for each other and enjoy deep fellowship and a sense of belonging. My daughter has a group of friends from high school that are a little like that, though they live in diverse places. They get together sometimes but often use facebook to keep up.
I have rarely had that in my life. All the way through college, I never had a group like that. In my twenties and thirties it never happened either. I have had a few groups that were at work and one that was at church, but never a group of friends that just hung out together. I think that is why Friends was a beloved show, it presented an ideal we all want, but rarely ever get in real life. Of course that is true, TV is not real life.
So what are we to do, us non-tv mortals? Well, I know that is what our spiritual community is supposed to be for us, that group of fellow travelers that walk the path with us. I wonder what would happen to us all if we treated church/spiritual family the way Friends played out their friendships? I am betting church would be full, it would be fun and it would be deep. And that gets me to thinking: if it isn’t that way, whose fault is it?
I think I need to be a better friend to those I go to church with and travel this path of life with. It is hard, at first, to be new and get involved, I want to be appreciated and accepted and fit in. Whew, who doesn’t? But time has to unfold and I must be available to those moments when I can find a good fit. But always, I have to be open for those moments, I have to be patient and wait for those times to happen when I can step in and fit in. I must live aware.
And isn’t that the same with our Dearest Friend? The Eternal wants to be our bestest friend, (as my daughter has said to me) wants us to be aware and open and ready to fit in with that blessed love. To do that, I have to live aware of the moment. Did I just basically say that I need to be the Eternal’s best friend? Is that outlandish to you? We expect the Eternal to always come to us in love and that will always be true. But, get ready, why am I not being the Eternal’s best friend? Hmmm, I think today I will try to be the Eternal’s “bestie”!
TMM