We know each other inside out.
Spanning many, many decades, our four friendships go all the way back to our grade school years. As adolescents, we knew each other’s hopes and dreams. As adults we’ve known each other’s successes and failures. We have shared moments of great joy and moments of great sorrow. Over the years, we have laughed and cried and comforted each other.
Although we have lived very different lives, sometimes in very different parts of the country, whenever an opportunity arises that brings us back together again, we pick up where we left off, not missing a beat.
So, after a six-year hiatus, all four of us are finally re-uniting this summer. The prickly point, however, is that at this stage in our lives, we have very different politics.
Mainly, that would be me.
In our country’s divisive, angry, hate filled political arena, the breakup of friendships and/or family relationships is a common occurrence. And the last thing I want is for politics to destroy these lifelong friendships.
In that regard, I have respectfully requested we avoid political discussions, and my friends have agreed. With only a few precious days together, who wants to engage in political debates? Besides, there is so much more goodness and beauty in the world to focus on.
I am reminded of the ancient words from the Book of Sirach that still speaks to us across the centuries:
A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter: he that has found one has found a treasure... (Sirach 6:14)
A sturdy shelter indeed.
Perhaps the best part of these treasured friendships is the grace we can give each other despite our differences.
