I’m reminded this week, or this month really, of the importance of friendships. More specifically, the friendships I’ve established in my life over the last ten years. Friends from Crown, from Camp, from Massachusetts, from Lithuania, from Yellowstone, and from Cooke City have all come into my life in these ten years; and while some will inevitably fade away as time passes, certain ones will remain friends for life.
In the age of Facebook, where people have hundreds, sometimes thousands, of “friends,” our society would do well to stop and remind itself of what true friendship actually is. Let me interject some wisdom from Ben Sirach, one of the Apocryphal books that I read this week.
“When you gain a friend, gain him through testing, and do not trust him hastily. For there is a friend who is such at his own convenience, but will not stand by you in your day of trouble. And there is a friend who changes into an enemy, and will disclose a quarrel to your disgrace. And there is a friend who is a table companion, but will not stand by you in your day of trouble.
A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he that has found one has found a treasure. There is nothing so precious as a faithful friend, and no scales can measure his excellence. A faithful friend is an elixir of life; and those who fear the Lord will find him.” (Sirach 6.7-16)
Of my 400+ Facebook “friends,” there a several that I consider the faithful friend of whom Sirach is speaking; friends who will be my sturdy shelter until the winds of life have ceased. And I am so grateful to God for the blessing of these friends in my life. But of these shelters, one stands stronger than the rest, one who is the most faithful of the faithful, one who is truly an elixir of life. Oddly enough, the majority of you who may be reading this know this friend. Some know her as Camp Kim, others Kasson Kim, Kween Kim or even Kamikaze Kim.
The picture above is of the contents in a package sent to me this week by Kim, who, upon hearing that I had no kitchen supplies upon arrival took it upon herself to purchase some for me. And if you know Kim, you know that she does nothing in her life half-hearted.
She is just one of the friends I’ve been blessed with over the last ten years, but is the one of whom Sirach was speaking – a true treasure.
Wow! What a glowing review, especially from you, Bopp! Kim deserves every word. And I'm trying not to feel bad about being cropped out of this photo :)
ReplyDeleteHaley, what a friend! Rejoicing with you in this act of love!
ReplyDeleteKristi - I don't know what you're talking about. :)
ReplyDeleteBetsy - She's a great friend. Everyone needs one of her in their life!
At both of you, it's weird to me that you don't know each other, because you are only separated from one another by, I think, one or two degrees of contact! Minneapolis, Bethlehem, camp connections! So fun.
Wow, I'm touched, Elm. In the interrogation game, we would call this a powerful Pride & Ego Up Approach. It's very effective in making people feel special and start talking. I am going to demand that everyone henceforth address me as "Elixir of Life." It has a nice Egyption goddess ring to it. :) Anyway, you're worth it. You should know by now there's nothing I wouldn't do for you.
ReplyDeleteYou should demand that your superior people in the ARMY address you as "Elixir of Life." See where that gets you in life!
ReplyDelete