Friendship

God is our refuge and strength,
   an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
   and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
   and the mountains quake with their surging.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
   the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
   God will help her at break of day.

Psalm 46: 1-5

I love my friend.  He walks down the hall with a bounce in his step and I wonder what makes him happy.  He would tell me it is the music, or the compliments, maybe a job well done.  But I wonder what is it deep down inside which makes him smile when he is alone.  Observation tells me it is definitely his children, probably his friends, most likely his job. 

We both know how to go to Jesus and come back happy.  We practice Christian discipleship in prayer, bible study, sing praises, and fellowship with other Christians.  We have both been through hardships of loss and confusion when God does not do or give as we expect.  We cry in the late hours and struggle to put the pain into God’s context, knowing only God can explain the plan.  We wake up the next morning, washed clean by the Spirit and prepared to step out onto the path again, not quite sure what the day will bring.

Yet, he still walks with a bounce as if the earth got a little lighter and he reached his hand up into heaven for a moment.  He has found the ever flowing river of God, the water that carries us like giggling children further along.  God is his refuge and strength.  God’s river fills him with joy and gladness.

It makes me smile to watch him walk away knowing he is smiling from his heart, knowing that God cannot fail.  If we rely on God instead of ourselves the joy will always return no matter what obstacles may come.  Is that not what true friendship embodies?  The patience to walk with others down God’s road and the delight in watching their joy as God wipes away every tear from their eyes.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes.

There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain,

for the old order of things has passed away.

Revelation 21:4

Dear Lord, let me always remember you ability to protect us and to wipe away all the tears.  May your protection, joy, and peace forever abide in my life and the lives of my friends.