Sunday, July 08, 2012

Forever Friends

In good times
And bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for...

Do any of you remember Dionne Warwick singing this lovely Stevie Wonder song? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtGF2m102Wg

Today I will speak about friendship, a reflection on the relationship between the biblical David and Jonathan, brothers-in-law who were also loyal friends. I will explore whether friendship is a gfit from God, a sustaining and life-giving force in our lives.


It's fascinating to me that the term "friend" has been radically altered by the phenomeon of Facebook. There are now 900 million Facebook users worldwide, all of whom have multiple 'friends." Except that these friends may be distant acquaintances, curiosity-seekers, even enemies who want to sneak into the virtual tent of one's Facebook account. There are no criteria for friendships, such as loyalty, mutuality, generosity --traditional qualities of friends. Now there are articles about the etiquette of blocking friend requests, or "unfriending" individuals. On the other hand, friends reconnect or stay connected through this virtual resource.

Are friendships important to you? Do you think friendship has been enhanced or debased by Facebook? Is one gender better at friendship than the other, or is it just different? Are you a "true blue" friend?

"Some friends play at friendship but a true friend sticks closer than one's nearest kin." Proverbs 18: 24
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3 comments:

  1. IanD11:22 AM

    Not a Facebooker, but I'd like to think most people know the real definition of the term as it applies to their own lives.

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  2. Laura2:42 PM

    Read an interesting commentary on Facebooking recently that spoke to the insecurities it is creating in lives...that doesn't ring of a sense of "true blue"....but that being said, what a way to stay in touch despite miles and busy lives.
    Recall another 'bit' I read recently that asked not how many "friends " you had but how manty people you had actually "befriended"?...something to think about.

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  3. sjd4:34 PM

    I can appreciate a true friend.
    I'm very happy that a couple of true friends just moved back to Ontario.
    I'm not on Facebook, and really have no use for it, because of all the negatives.

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