Then I went to see Janice - my buddy who lost her husband at New Year. I havent seen as much of her as I had planned to, so it was good to catch up. We are very similar in outlook and humour and thinking. Its a super easy relationship, very honest and real but somehow with really good boundaries which mean that neither of us feel bad or guilty if we dont keep up with each other as much as we would like. Janice feels like the sister I never had. I trust her, I admire her. I like her. Alot.
In the evening I was out at a music practise with a group of girls from church. Well, from various churches. We are having a ladies day on March 25th (https://www.facebook.com/ViaWingsDr omore/photos/a.303562852994930.80229.282101891807693/1596275813723621/?type=3&theater so we were going over the songs and having a great time of worship. Afterwards I sat down with my mate Karen for a cuppa. Karen and I share the nitty gritty of life. Mostly the spiritual nitty gritty but sometimes the more mundane and practical stuff too. I helped her out when she was having a hard time with her teenage son - donning my social work hat to do a spot of family therapy. She was one of the very few people who had any inkling of my depression long before anyone else did. We dont live in each others pockets or know all each others secrets - but we care about each other and are at very similar stages in our spiritual journeys so we pick each other up and dust each other down when life gets tricky. When we worship together something special happens. A spiritual synergy which I just love.It strikes me today that Jesus put a huge value on having friends. He had a different relationship with each disciple as well as the women who followed and served Him. Mary, Martha and Lazarus clearly had a special place in His heart. Peter and John were probably closer to Him than the others - John being described as the disciple who Jesus loved. Jesus was the most attractive man who ever walked the earth - so it is not surprising that He would have swarms of people around Him wanting a piece of Him, following Him on Twitter, stalking Him on Facebook etc. But I think that Jesus gathered a group of disciples around Him not merely because He had to pass on His teaching and establish the church through them. I think He needed friends.
Way back at the start God said that it is not good for man to be alone. And it isnt. It wasnt good for Jesus to be alone either. He needed the support and practical help and humour and understanding and prayers of a group of real people. He spent every day for three years with a group of guys who got to know and love Him to the point where they were prepared to die for Him. And He for them. Greater love has no man ..... Someone once said that no man is an island. We all need relationships and to be connected with people who genuinely care about us. We really dont survive well in isolation. Which is why prison ( and in particular solitary confinement) has such a catastrophic effect on peoples mental health. And probably why Jesus only spent 40 days in the wilderness on His own before re-joining the community of His friends and family. 40 days of aloneness is hard. Would I lay down my life for my friends? Really. Would I ? I would like to think I would, but Im not sure. Im not sure that any of them would take a bullet for me. But Jesus did. My best friend. His love for me is absolute and unwavering. He is always there, always listening, full of wisdom, compassion and kindness. He is funny and sharp, faithful and true. I am deeply thankful that He has led me to the friends I have in my life. He is in them and though them I get to know more of what He is like.
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