Friendship

“To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with.” (Mark Twain)

I met an elderly gentleman on a walk through the woods this week and my new friend taught me something about companionship. 

Max (my Jack Russell Terrier) and I were out for a stroll on the ski trails south of Camrose and met there a white-haired man walking an old collie-lab cross. Both had more grey than color in their coat and neither was prancing about with the kind of energy of the 5-year old dog scooting at my heels. Max ran ahead and the two dogs stood a half dozen metres apart assessing each other before tails began to wag and body-sniffing erupted.

The gentleman and I did not sniff each other. But we did smile and conversation ensued. His dog, he remarked, was 12 years old and as he said it his eyes lit up with remembered walks and the intimate companionship that can sometimes happen between humans and animals. He went on to tell me that the old dog was walking a bit stiffly these days. "Her hips are sore and  she sits more than she walks." I wondered if he was really referring to the dog as I watched him move a bit slowly as well.  The old hound ambled slowly over to give me a tentative sniff and then she gingerly worked her way back to her human. 

The old man smiled kindly to Max and me and the two of them walked with careful steps back to his truck. Max, with usual enthusiasm leaped up into the cab of our truck and, as I was turning around to drive away, I noticed my new friend doing something that is the cause of this writing. From the back of his pickup he had pulled a little set of wooden steps that were built to the exact height of the seat of his truck. His aging canine partner was gingerly working her way up the steps with his steady encouragement. It was clearly painful for her as she made several attempts. 


I waved as I went by and shared in this fellow's relief as his dog finally settled on the seat of the truck and the steps where reverently replaced in the truck box.

Such companionship - shared struggles, shared love, shared joy. Growing old together. It happens between us and our animal friends, and all the more so between us and our human friendships. I have seen this same sense of union shared between couples on the dance floor - moving with the grace and familiarity that is forged by decades of journeying together.

I have observed such companionship shared between two women over a cup of coffee at a coffee shop - an aroma of comfort in shared memories and easy friendship finding expression in laughter and tears. 

This kind of companionship, this deep sharing of struggles and joys - this gives us life and sustains us in the journey. It is an expression of the encompassing intimacy that is ours through God's Spirit wherein we can face our pain, our losses, and the uncertainties of life with courage and hope. My new white-haired friend and his gray-coated journey-mate are an echo of our creator's care for us. We are always loved, always held and in the quiet places of our heart where Spirit hovers, we are never alone.

May you know the gift of companionship today - and may it sustain and uplift you as you travel life's road.

I leave the last word to Jesus:

John 14:25-27 (The Message)

"I'm telling you these things while I'm still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I'm leaving you well and whole. That's my parting gift to you. Peace. I don't leave you the way you're used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft.

Pastor Bill

Be still
for just a moment

remember
to breathe
deeply
out

and let breath
flow deeply in

and breathe
and breathe
and
know

that you are so
loved
and cherished

you
are held

Smile
and be
true
in this
day

[First published May 2, 2012]