Mentally speaking we all enter into friendships with the idea that this will be a benefit to us. Not in a selfish way, but more in a desire to improve our life by joining with others we hope will support and be our friend.
Often though we take the road to friendship one mile at a time. We take the first mile to get to speed and get used to the gears. We take the mile slower and learn a little about the road we are one. Reading the signs and taking note of the distance traveled. This is the point when we ask a lot of questions to our friends and see what they like and dislike. We learn a little of their past and some of the goals of their future.
Then the second mile comes and we speed up to a little more of a faster pace. The signs seem a little less noticeable, so now we look more at the overall scenery and see the deeper landscape. This is the time when we start letting the smaller signs pass by, and begin to get into the deeper part of our friendship. When we can sit and talk about our inner desires and hopes, and actually show a little more of who we are.
Then we have the middle miles. These are the miles that might be full of road construction and pot holes. We might slow down for a little bit to be cautious, but we keep on moving. This is the time in all friendships when things happen that make for tough times. This could be a argument, or minor disagreement. We might get up set, but we still keep on that road of friendship. We realize that the road work was not meant to slow us down, but rather to improve the path.
Then we get to the scenic route, the deep color part of the road. Where the ocean is on one side and tall redwoods are on the other. Ferns cover the landscape and waves can be seen crashing on the shores and rocks below. This is the jewel part of friendship, when your connection to the person knows so many colors and reasons for being strong. You value your time more and you connect on levels of friendship you have never thought possible.
Then the car runs out of gas and the road seems to darken ahead. Your friendship has run a long course, but your friend and you have grown old together and now one of you is in there last days. Many people have left them and moved on, but you are still there. The car is out of gas, but the journey is not get complete. Time to go the extra mile. So you park the car, get out and start to walk with your friend. You realize that now that time is short, a walk at a slow pace makes more sense anyway. You have time to talk about past miles and to enjoy the scenery a little closer.
Then the last mile comes. Your friend whom you have had for a life time has now passed and you stand on that road alone. What do you do. You walk over to a local store and find a postcard or two that show highlights of the road and keep it with you. Later you will look at it and remember all the curves and all the hills you climbed together. As long as that card is with you, the path will never end in your mind.
Now you get into you car again and begin a new road, a road that heads in a similar path. A path that will meet much traffic, as you travel. You will travel to many ends, but always remembering those past miles with your friend.
Isn't friendship a wonderful road?
Take Care
Road to friendship
by kenpodragon 2 Replies latest jw friends
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kenpodragon
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SpiceItUp
That was very beautiful...
thanks for taking the time to post it.
Spice
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Beck_Melbourne
That was a nice journey through the phases of friendship. I don't have any friends still with me since childhood...I was born into the WT...and all my friends from childhood were jw. I have had to form new friendships since my exit....and that has been a nice journey also. Nice comments Kenpo.
Beck