The Road To Friendship
The Road to Friendship
“The only way to have a friend is to be one.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Friendship is like a road. It’s a road that runs many ways. A friendship is built on many things and can lead to strong relationships. Continuing with the metaphor of a road, the seasonality of friendships will also lead to challenges:
Curves – a friend goes a different direction than you - ever happen? What did you do?
T-junctions – a friend has two choices, decides which way to go, what do you do? Do you acquiesce, or do you suggest the other road?
Dead ends – well, that may be obvious that this isn't the way to go.
Merges – think about a time when you have seen the wisdom in the difference of opinion you may have had with a friend and find the application of your friend's opinion improves your joint goal.
Yields – How is yielding to a friend’s viewpoint different from a non-friend’s viewpoint?
Stops – ever found a stop sign in a relationship? What did you do?
Crash – If a friendship (road) leads to a crash (we hope not), what do you do?
Pastor Leanne, in her blog post earlier this month wrote about friendship “seasons” – changes leading to longing and loving - the seasons of life that continue to turn.
What is Friendship?
Biblically:
“. . . Love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:12
“. . . You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another”. Proverbs 27:17
Philosophically:
“In the cookies of life, friends are the chocolate chips.” Unknown
Historically:
San Juan Capistrano, California, is an historic city, going back to the 1700’s. Community Presbyterian Church (CPC) was established 105 years ago as the first protestant church in the Capistrano Valley. One key value we at CPC have always shared is relationships – built on friendship, built on a relationship with God. We foster acquaintances that build into friendships that become relationships.
Contemporary Culture:
"There's a marked difference between acquaintances and friends . . . in a friendship you get to know the spirit of another person; and your values coincide." Maya Angelou
Ah - acquaintances vs friendship - any thoughts on your part? What do you value? Where you are within yourself, do you foster relationships or only acquaintances? Something to pray about? Please share your thoughts. Maybe we will explore this further in a later post!
In closing, and In this time of exploding cultural controversy and concerns over Artificial Intelligence (AI), I decided to stick my toe in the water and see what AI might generate if I requested (through AI search) a prayer about friendship and support. Here goes:
"As my friends struggle, Lord, help me to be there for them. When I need their aid, help me to ask them and not try to do everything by myself. Help me to always treat them with love and respect, reaching out even when I want someone to reach out to me instead. Friendship can't be selfish, Lord". Adapted by Google AI from Abide.com
Praying for you,
PB
Community Presbyterian Church
32202 Del Obispo
San Juan Capistrano. CA 92675
949-493-1502
info@sjcpres.org