Friendships

The issues is what is a friend? Definitions define the word as an alley, partner, kindred spirit. All are fine yet they seem so inadequate. Friends are those that struggle with you, strive in an endeavor, and in times of nakedness are truth tellers. And they can be the biggest betrayers in one's life. History, plays, epics, movies poems all tell stories of friends betraying a person Cesar had Brutus, Christ had Judas, countless others have their stories about betrayal. But this is not about betrayal, it's about how friends. Those who love you in spite of, because of, and stand with you when others might not.



I have know such friends in my life. In fact I lost a marriage because of my refusal to disconnect relationships. Sady some of us can not understand the closeness of another for we have no friends, just those we "know'. These people are the ones we see but do not see, hear but understand not, are involved but at levels of indifference. It is no wonder that we are so fragile we cut off the avenue that would enrich our lives.



Some friends make you laugh others you share private moments of reflection: that incident where you should not have survived, got away or been jailed. You laugh but inside the knowledge of the madness makes one think: what could have been and the tragedy people would have ascribed to lost potential.



There are times when friends can not be found not from trying but by circumstances that try as you might place you alone with that dark night of the soul where you have to face the crucible of decision and none can make it for you and no one can rescue you. It is yours alone to carry, your Calvary, Golgotha, your facing of quo vidas Domini? Which way Lord? At those instances friendships elude one in that time of decision however they do appear after the rendering.



This is the beauty of friendships! They critique of your choice. Unlike Job's friends they stick to you, laugh, cry and then after the crises talk about you like you had canine qualities.



I love my friends, they are a part of me. They have been with me as I have with them we have grown up together: now in a time of reflection my conscience thought laughs as I think of the roads we have and have yet to travel. Later