How long has it been since you've had one of those eye-popping, jaw dropping experiences? I had one last week.
"I just wanted to let you know," a friend wrote as she passed on the news that a mutual friend and role model had recently died. He was ninety-six; I last saw him in 1968 when I was just twenty five years of age so it's been a long time.
Back then there were many of us in the church where I worshipped who were influenced by Elliott, his golden voice and his skill at leading Sunday morning song services. That was decades ago and frankly, I'd almost forgotten about those things until the email. Unlike most mass mailings, though, this note wasn't sent as a Blind Copy - meaning that I could see who else received the message. I scrolled down slowly, intrigued to find the names of those I remembered and those I'd nearly forgotten. Then, to add to the pleasure of this discovery, one of the people on that list phoned me from California. During the course of our conversation I found that another two friends married and live just a ferry ride, then a short drive from us. Finding a buried treasure chest might not bring much more pleasure than have these events.
True friendship bestows gifts found nowhere else because it is to friends that we look for support, sharing, fellowship, admonition and trust, among other things. Though some friends come and go throughout the course of our lives, there are those who remain as anchors and pillars throughout the course of our earthly sojourn. Even God values friendship!
"God said to Satan, "Have you noticed my friend Job? There's no one quite like him-honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil." Job 1:8
