|
"The
ancients viewed friendship as the crown of life, the
fulfillment of all that is distinctively human. Moderns
all too often assess its value primarily in terms of its
usefulness for achieving material ends (friends as
business contacts) or minimizing boredom and loneliness
(friends as people to kill time with)."
- David Benner, Sacred Companions,
p.61
Spiritual
Friends
We don't do friendship well.
Acquaintances? Fine. Work colleagues? No problem. Fellow
church members? Easy. But friendships? Many of
us-especially men-are inept, incompetent, and
insecure.
The
pace of our lives and demands on our days provide a
screen to hide behind. In reality, the stress and chaos
with which we live betrays our relegation of friendship.
We devote ourselves to accumulating things or
reputations while we neglect the soul's deepest
yearning. Indeed, the relative ease with which we walk
in and out of most relationships should shock
us.
Who
among us would describe friendship as "the crown of
life"?
We
may toil to build networks or even
ministries.
In our purest moments we may devote ourselves to help
another person; build a shelter for the homeless, stock
a pantry for the hungry, mow a yard for the inform, or
give money to the destitute. The crown of life
for the most altruistic among us often boils down to a
good feeling of service to others and perhaps to hear
our own children claim the name of Christ. But
friendship?
Friendship
is not the luxury of stay-at-home moms or the
independently wealthy. We ought not "grow out of it"
when we enter the workforce or start families. Nor can
we discard it as an unattainable idealism for our
present. Rather, this elusive "crown" is offered to all
of us...as we offer ourselves to it.
And
of all friendships, can anything transcend the joy of
spiritual friendship?
David
Benner describes a spiritual friend simply as a
person who helps another discern the voice and Presence
of God in their lives. We can value our football
friends, quilting friends, skiing friends, and service
friends, but spiritual friends are a crown
indeed.
From
eternity, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have enjoyed
a sublime friendship and, remarkably, they invite us
into that intimate circle. Jesus says to His disciples,
"You are My friends. I call you friends because I have
made known to you...My Father." (Jn
15:14-15)
This
year, to whom might you be a spiritual friend? With whom
might you enter the trinitarian circle more deeply? May
the Lord lead you to such a
crown.
In
HOPE
--
David |
.jpg)