I call you friend

At least my injured ulnar nerves seemed mostly healed before I broke my toe. One part of my body seems to always be in pain, but I am grateful it is not all of it all at once. I plan to do a lot of biking and kayaking this summer until my toe heals. I guess my running career will be put on hold. Too bad, as I was quickly approaching the blistering pace of 15 minute miles. Each year, I tick another minute onto the time it takes per mile. Soon, I will be shuffling along like all the people I used to make fun of in my youth. What goes around, comes around....

I had a few major setbacks in my book writing yesterday. The opus magnificent that was to win me a Nobel is now to be split into two opus minors. It is too depressing a tale to whine about right now, so I am just forging ahead with as positive an attitude as I can muster when one's vision ends up being forced into ugly corrective lenses. My solace? If God desires it to happen, it will all turn out well in the end.

I was rocking on my front porch with one of my favorite friends on earth, and we were talking about many things, but something she said really struck me. She said that when she was growing up, there were many very hard times, but she always KNEW that God was there, and she always knew Him to be a friend. She said it in a way that didn't sound contrived or hokey, the way that *can* sound on insincere lips. She said it with so much love and trust and vivid memory that I could feel how closely she and God walked with each other. I found it very comforting because I see God in many ways, but I do not often see Him as my friend. However, sometimes, more than anything, what one needs is a friend.

John 15:15-17 (NIV)
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. [16] You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit---fruit that will last---and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. [17] This is my command: Love each other.


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