From the Pastor's Pen

Dear friends,

It really is great fun to have a birthday these days.  There are so many ways to be in touch!  So today is my birthday, and my favorite thing about birthdays is hearing from people.  I have heard from many, many friends old and new today.  I’ve gotten messages on Facebook, cards in the mail, emailed birthday wishes, phone calls and text messages.  Isn’t technology wonderful?!  It has been simply delightful to hear from people who are dear to me, many of whom are friends from long ago.

I started thinking about friends in the Bible today because of all of these connections.  I couldn’t really come up with a particular verse about friendship, which sort of surprised me, and so I googled “friends in the Bible.”  There was not really much there.  There were a few classic friendships mentioned like David and Johnathan or the friends of Job – who were not very great friends.  That’s when I remembered that in the faith community people who were dear to you were called brothers and sisters.  In fact there is a verse in proverbs that makes that connection:  “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24.  Friends in the Bible are understood to be so essential and important as to be considered a brother or sister and these brothers and sisters in the Lord are mentioned constantly!

I have been blessed today by the gift of many “friends,” who have reached out with a word of greeting to make my day.  Who are the friends, or brothers and sisters you should be reaching out to today with a word of greeting or good wishes?  It takes very little to bring a spot of joy to someone’s day.  Do it now!

Peace,

Pr. Sally