what a friend can do

In the hustle of everyday life, the knowledge of what is important or needed sometimes is lost. The constant motion of doing often gets in the way of enjoyment of being. Or even the necessity our soul craves.

Friendships are one of those things. But it goes beyond the act of the relationship to the value of the individual called "friend." Although most people at any given time can point to a group of friends and a support system, sometimes the idea of just how important those people are loses its clarity.

Take time to realize this. Lately I have come to cherish the individuals in my life that reach out, that comfort, that I can truly call friend, rather than just being someone who passes and exchanges recognition in a smile or a few words. Don't get me wrong, those moments are hugely important as well; but it is small compared to the idea of friend.

It is important to have groups of people where you feel safe being vulnerable, being broken, being honest, digging into the deeper aspects of life with. I know these people. And, although they may not always understand me completely, I know they will still always listen and offer up a thoughtful perspective.

I know individuals who I feel I can come to with anything. Granted, they are not many, and probably don't need to be many. But I know that those people I can bring my greatest issues to and receive help to walk through it.

What does it look like?

Sometimes it's a conversation that goes beyond "hi, great weather we're having," to a conversation over coffee when you both happened to be in the same place at the same time. I cannot count how many times this has happened unexpectedly and I walk away with a greater reminder of how much I really enjoy that individual. Other times it's someone intersecting my daily routine and just bringing joy in the reminder that I am not alone in this. Some nights, it's a conversation over dinner or in someone's home or a few minutes before or after an event we're both at. It can be a phone call, a text message, an instant message that is just a reminder that there are other people right alongside me.

And it all comes back to the fact that this other individual takes time out of their life to reach a hand out and do life with another individual. i cannot tell you how many of the individuals in my life I am so blessed to call "friend."

My hope is that each one of you is experiencing this or seeking it out and that you realize the importance of the people around you. The process isn't always quick or easy or comfortable, but the journey is wonderful. In reality, each relationship is just that: a journey. I hope that you have beautiful people joining you on that journey.