Once a Year Friends


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?