A twist of Christmas

Friendships

I recently enjoyed a visit from some really good friends who now live in New Zealand. We met 20 years ago but have only lived in the same town/city for two of those years. We have discovered a shared joy of music, having fairly similar tastes, desire for a deeper understanding of our spirituality and have wonderful moments of side-splitting laughter over meals and coffee. Although we see each other seldom, each encoounter builds on the last and somehow we "connect" without any effort.

I value friendship greatly. It is the most wonderful gift. I have amazing (and many weird!) friends. Some continue to be my friend even when I have made mistakes and sometimes even wounded them.

Perhaps that is why Jesus said: "You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants . . ." it seems to me as if Jesus valued friendships greatly in his dealings with people. He had very close friends and walked a long and tiring journey with them, even when they hurt him.

As I consider my relationships I am overwhelmed by this amazing gift of friendship. Many of my friends have become my new family.

And so the desire stirring up within me is not to be a better, more qualified, better educated, wise person. Or to be rich, or famous, or fitter, or more good-looking! It is to be a friend.

Looking up . . . looking down

On Sunday I drove passed a local church and saw something that got my senile mind going again. A tall member of the congregation (he was about 6'6" - something else in metres) was speaking with the car guard (she was about 5'2"). The image was so overpowering. How does it feel to always have people look down at you? It was somehow representative of the relationship of people. Last weeks reading of Bartimaeus came to mind.

I remembered an experience I had with my son about 10 years ago. He was then 7 and we gave him a disposable camera. When we had the photographs printed all we saw was these giant people - my wife and I (who both come in at under 5'7")! From his perspective we looked overpowering! Now he is 17 and we look up to him!

How can we keep perspective when the bigger, taller, wealthier, stronger naturally look down at others? How can we avert our eyes from this very real danger as a "Bartimaeus" comes across my path? Looking directly into the eyes of another may mean that I have to kneel, or stand up.