This week I’m at our denomination convention in Cincinnati. I think the best part of these annual gatherings is being with some of the friends one has acquired over the years. Friends are people with whom we share a common history and a compatible chemistry. Of the billions of people on this planet, our lives have intersected in some way; and it’s made a lasting impression. Even when seeing some of our friends only once a year, we can pick up where we left off — somehow it’s a permanent bond, and an eternal one. I’ve wondered tonight if this might be the last time I see some of my friends this side of heaven; with others, I’ve wondered if they may re-enter my life with greater frequency.
Someone once said, “It takes a long time to grow an old friend.”
Funny thing is, I’m even getting to be friends with some people whom I once rather disliked. It’s a little scary. I wonder who has changed—them or me?