All of us hunger to find people who will sit down with us and give us their full attention. No distractions, a face to face encounter where we can look each other in the eyes and communicate verbally and non-verbally with one another. We feel a glow of connection that is like no other. Some of us have been fortunate to know people we could share almost anything with: our imperfections, our failures, our moments of jealousy, sins we have never been able to let go of, our struggles with depression or anxiety, and even our successes. People we can share our doubts about God with. We know with a certainty that they will not laugh at, make light of, or judge us. These people give us compassion, kindness, and information, so we can resolve or solve our own problems. They support us in our time of need and we feel most grateful toward those who let us know they accept us just as we are. This is described beautifully in a poem by Dinah Mulock Craik.     (Yu/stan/kema).

FRIENDSHIP

Oh, the comfort… the inexpressible

Comfort of feeling safe with a person,

Having neither to weigh thoughts,

Nor measure words, but pouring

Them all right out, just as they are,

Chaff and grain together,

Certain that a faithful hand will

Take and sift them,

Keep what is worth keeping

And with a breath of kindness

Blow the rest away.

Dinah Mulock Craik.