The other day I was at work and my cell phone began to ring. I looked down and saw the name of a friend pop up and immediately answered it.
I knew that judging by the time of day this friend would be driving from his office to a visit. Just in that second before answering, I knew that he was driving on the highway, had a chance to make a phone call, and wanted to catch up with his friend Sarah. I know this friend well.
I answered and my friend opened the conversation with, “Hi Sarah. Is this a good time to call?” Some people may begin their conversations in a different way, but my friend knows that most likely I was at the office, and I may be in a pastoral conversation or a meeting. My friend knows me well.
Our conversation continued with sharing how our Christmas went, telling stories of the family, me thanking him and his family for gifts they sent to my daughter, and he telling me about the progress of a pregnancy in his family.
I asked him if he was happy with his work, and was glad to hear some good news of hard work come to fruition. He asked me how my work was going, and then he asked me a question.
“Are you starting something new?”
It’s a good question at the beginning of a new year, and I had an answer ready for him. It’s part of my new year’s resolution.
“Yes I do. I want to get into centering prayer.
Do you know about centering prayer?”
We talked some more about this type of meditative prayer and I mentioned a book I bought about centering prayer. I got it right after Christmas.
“I know this book, Sarah. Great choice.”
(A friend is into the things you’re into.)
Now I didn’t tell my friend the whole story of the book. I got this book right after Christmas with the excitement of starting something new.
The book arrived.
And stayed on my dining table for a day.
Then it was moved to the shelf near the front door.
Then I actually and very intentionally picked it up and put it in my car.
Where it stayed for a week.
Unopened.
Finally, I got this weighty tome into my office and kept my desk from floating away. Closed and unread.
“So have you started reading the book?”
(A good friend knows which questions to ask.)
“I hope to real soon.”
“That’s great Sarah. I think you’ll really enjoy it.”
We talked some more and as we were ending our conversation my friend said,
“I’d love to talk with you more about the book you’re starting. How about…. I call back in a month?”
(A great friend keeps you honest…. and accountable)
I have a couple of great friends in my life, and they’re all different from each other, but I’ve found that they share certain beautiful qualities. They share a common passion…maybe reading, maybe a good love for movies, maybe a shared experience with parenting. Those great bonds that bring you and a friend together. A good friend asks me great questions and they keep me honest. And through their friendship, I find myself wanting to be better… a better friend to them… and a better friend in general.
I ended that friendly conversation feeling uplifted and in a better place. And to my surprise, later that day, I actually got around to cracking open that book.
It’s amazing what a friendly conversation can do for the soul.
Had one lately?
