At almost 80 years of age, I often flip back
through memories of good times and of hard times. Doing so brings into focus
some friends I haven’t heard from in many years. Alas, they haven’t heard from
me either. It has been so long that I wonder if they are still living or are
now on the other side with Christ. Those who are as old as me, or almost as
old, are in what a pastor friend calls “the check out zone.”
The internet and Facebook
have been instrumental in reconnecting with some of them. But in addition, I
have decided, rather than wonder where they are or what they are doing; I will
systematically attempt to contact them and bring each of us up to date, and renew
our friendship.
I
recognize that keeping a friendship alive is my responsibility. I can’t count
on someone else doing it. Why should I be the one? I am the one because I value
those friendships and thank God for them. And I am blessed by the memories of
them.
The
apostle Paul made mission trips all over the Mediterranean world. I imagine
that he made hundreds, if not thousands of friends during those trips. I don’t
know if he kept up with any of them (no regular postal service, no phone, no
email or Facebook). But he remembered them. To the Philippians he wrote, “I
thank my God upon every remembrance of you.” (Philippians 1:3)
No comments:
Post a Comment