And as we venture forward, one way or another, we interact with others. Most of those “others” are the same “others” that we have had connected to before. The circle of acquaintances that make up our lives, which include family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and a random assortment of people that have become an important to us in other ways as well.
On this daily trek, opportunities arise that introduce us to some, whose own journey would not seem to intersect with ours in a meaningful way. Perhaps by chance, though I believe those encounters are nudged along by greater forces, we come to meet…someone. And there are times what appears a random encounter proves to become something greater.
Friends and how we gather them, has always been, an enigma to me. Maybe that is how it should be. For friendship cannot be forced and last, but true friendship lasts throughout our lifetime. Perhaps longer. And it is not the number of friends we have accumulated, but the bond our friendship forms which truly matters.
I write these ramblings, with a relatively new friend on my mind. Our life’s journeys only brushed lightly in their passing, but in those subtle contacts, something larger than I had imagined came to be.
Friendship.
Now this friend comes to my mind often, as that particular friend faces life’s challenges. I am reminded that each of us must deal with the unwanted situations and the unexpected demands that living gives. And such is the situation this friend faces.
I pray for this friend, as I pray for many others. You see it makes no difference how this connection came to be or how long our friendship has existed. This person is a friend, and I care about my friends.
Isn’t that the way it should be?
Empathy, caring, is part of the man I am. It has its price. At times that price is very high. But Empathy also has its rewards.
You see, because I care, I have a new friend, and friends are the most genuine gems, we accumulate as we move forward, on this journey called life.
(367 Words) 1-14-2023
