Friends, How many of us have them?

If you were a teenager of the 90s, you remember this question posed in the hit song "Friends" by the rap group Whodini.  This song just asks; Do you have friends?  Proverbs 18:24 reminds us of this "A man that hath friends must show himself friendly:  and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."  If you have true friends in your life, you are indeed blessed, and are more than likely a blessing to them.

My closest friends are lumped into the same category as my family.  Oftentimes I find myself speaking to them more frequently than I do with my family.  That is not to say that they have replaced the love that I have and cherish for my family in any way.  Simply put, that's just the way that it is.  In the Episcopal and Roman Catholic Church, January 12 is the Feast Day (day of celebration/observance) for Aelred of Rievaulx.  I know, you're like who the heck is that?  Don't you mean Alfred?  No, there's no typo; Aelred.

Aelred was a 12th century monk, who was in his time the guru of friendship.  Aelred was an expert on friendship and has even written on it at length.  Aelred's writings explored the foundation, joys qualities and criteria for discernment of friendship.  The following is one of Aelred's statements on friendship. "Authentic Christian friendship must begin in Christ, continue in Christ and be perfected in Christ.  Friendship is also everlasting, an image of God's eternal love."  You should google Aelred in your spare time.  He has some very interesting views on friendship which are still applicable in the 21st century.  Got a friend?  Be a friend!

Read and meditate on this prayer for the Feast of Saint Aelread of Rievaulx.

Pour into our hearts, O God, the Holy Spirit's gift of love, That we, clasping each other's hand, may share the joy of friendship, human and divine, and with your servant Aelred draw many to your community of love; through Jesus Christ the Righteous, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen

Peace,
Karsten