Old Friends

There is no substitute for friendship. The older I get, the more dear my older friends become. This is especially true after a long absence. Email is a wonderful thing but it can only take you to a short point that lacks the depth I so long for in my most precious friendships. There are burdens you can share only with these people. They know you like no one else does. They know where you've been, what you've done, and where you hope to go. They have seen you screw up and have seen you grow. They have taken a hit for you... or from you... And over all these things, after all is said and done, they love you. There is nothing like sitting down with one of these people after being apart for so long and losing track of time. I had a rare few hours tonight with my oldest, dearest friend. It was the most wonderful refreshment I've had in a long time and I consider her a manifestation of God's grace. And if you think that sounds like a quite a high compliment, you'd be right. It is.