Friendship

One of the deepest longings of the human soul is the longing to be seen, and to be loved, and to be accepted. Aristotle said that no one would choose to live without friends… even if they had every other good thing in the world.

There would be no question.

And yet, it's not easy, is it?

The poet John O'Donohue said, "There is a natural hunger in the spirit to be loved and to be as you are without being judged." But, he noticed, we offer each other those spaces less and less. We don't take the time. "We've become post-graduates in the art of acquaintances," he said, "but paupers in the art of friendship."

In John's gospel, Jesus tells his disciples, "Love one another as I have loved you." And then he says, "I do not call you servants any longer… but I have called you friends." (John 15:12, 15)

Again and again in the gospels, Jesus shows up precisely where people are lonely, sick, and suffering.

I imagine, at least in part, that Jesus is inviting us to show up the same way he does. I imagine, at least in part, he is inviting us to make sure that no one has no one.

Sooner or later, all of us will face times of loneliness, times of suffering, and times of illness. And so, a blessing for you today:

May God bring into your life at least one faithful friend.
May you be a friend to the friendless.
May you treasure the friends you have.
May you be good to them, and may you be there for them.
May they bring you all the blessings, challenges, truth, and light you need for the days ahead.
And may you rest securely in the love of Christ, who has called you friend.

Prayer: God of love, in Jesus Christ you walked among us, flesh and blood. You ate with sinners. You touched the lonely and the sick. You laughed and cried and suffered alongside us. Thank you for the people you have brought into our lives: neighbors, friends, family, our church family. Be near to those who are lonely today, and to those most often forgotten. And give us grace to be better friends, to those we love and to those who need us most. In Christ's name. Amen.

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