“No longer do I call you servants . . . I call you My friends.”  Jesus—as recorded  in The Gospel of John

“What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”  Hymn

“A friend in need is a friend indeed.”  My mother Jean

Who is your friend?  Why?  What do you most value about him/her?

I’ve been thinking of friends a lot recently.  In part because I moved to a new place where I don’t have any friends.  And I miss my previous ones.  I didn’t consider that component when I made my decision to take the new job in a new place.

I’ve also been thinking about friends because a few of my friends have had some very serious health issues.  Perry just underwent a very serious surgery for cancer at the Mayo Clinic.  Gordy was just diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  And Karen has been struggling with a variety of ongoing health issues.  Funny how as we age it seems that we become more aware of those who are facing such challenges.

Friendship is a phenomenal experience.  From the time we’re little we have friends.  Perhaps they were neighbors or classmates or even siblings.  As we grew older our friends may have changed.  We lost some and gained others along the way.  It’s quite possible that we remained friends with one or two of our closes throughout our life.  My Aunt Lucille, who will be 105 on March 5^th, has been friends with Miles Pash since she was a little girl.  They grew up in the same isolated area of Nail Creek in Northern Wisconsin.

Anne Shirley, from Anne of Green Gables, called Diana Berry her bosom friend.  She was the person with whom Anne could be herself, be fully accepted, and share her deepest thoughts and feelings.  That’s a true friend.  The Celts called it ‘Anam Cara”, which means a soul friend.  Having a soul friend is balm for the spirit, body, and mind.

What does it mean to have a friend?  What does it mean to be a friend?

One of the most unique aspects of Jesus as a rabbi is that he called his disciples his friends.  That was highly unusual for the time.  But it wasn’t only his disciples, but each of us that he calls friends.  He is the one whom we can just be ourselves.  We don’t have to serve or try and please him or meet his expectations.  We can just be ourselves with him.  And we can be certain that he is with us in our times of need, often-times in the form of another person who becomes Christ to us and for us.

I’m grateful for friends.  I miss some of my friends.  I can’t wait to see or be with them again. Some of you reading this are my friends. I want to tell you how much I appreciate you, and I hope to see you or speak with you this side of eternity.

I invite you to think of some friends.  Perhaps consider reaching out to them, calling them, or maybe even getting together with them.  And certainly praying for them.