Friends

This morning I met a good friend for coffee.  We spent two wonderful hours together, talking, laughing, catching up.  We were really honest about our hopes and dreams and fears.  I am so grateful for the time we shared, and the way we trusted each other with our hearts.

It is a rare gift to be able to trust someone so much that you can share the parts of yourself that are not for public consumption...you know, the parts of yourself that are frustrating, worrisome, and well, human, knowing that your friend will keep on loving and accepting you.  My dad told me once that if you can count on one hand the number of friends that you have like this, you are very, very fortunate.  As I get older, I am beginning to understand what he meant.

Friends are a great blessing.  There are friends that you know from childhood, school, work; from volunteering, going to church, from being part of a group together.  There are Christmas card friends and neighborhood friends, old friends and new friends.  There are friends who you know would be there for you in a heartbeat, even if you don't talk all that often--and you know you would do the same for them.

The friends for whom we would do anything, and vice versa, the friends with whom we share our whole selves and lives--as much as any of us can--are the friends my dad was talking about.  There is a Celtic phrase, anam cara, which means "friend of my soul."  These are the rare friendships that will stay with you for life, through time, distance, life changes, and even death.

Do you have any anam cara friends?  I hope so.  There is nothing else like them.  They are an irreplaceable treasure.  Tonight, I am very grateful for anam cara friends, for old friends and new friends, for friends near and far.  Thanks be to God for every one of the friends who add color and comfort, love and life to all of our journeys!