Friends and Family Revisited

My brother Jeff in Colorado recently called me to make sure I was alright. He said I hadn't written anything on my blog recently and he was concerned about me. My excuse is I have been too busy. I hadn't really ever considered that someone actually reads my blog enough to be concerned if I didn't write. So Jeff you get the credit or blame for my renewed writing effort.

Kathy and I are in the Pacific Northwest visiting friends and family. My mentor and partner Mike Moynahan graciously encouraged me to make the trip and is standing in for me.

Kathy and I always found ways to visit family in North Idaho regularly when we lived in Woodinville. What we hadn't thought about was how much we would miss our many friends in the Seattle area. So as Kathy was planning our trip it quickly became evident we wouldn't be able to squeeze in quality time with everyone we wished.

We are grateful for the gracious hosting of Nancy and Clyde Langaunet and Don and Joy Kiehl. Don and Joy have been close friends since our days together at North Seattle Alliance Church in the mid seventies. Clyde and Nancy are long time friends from Woodinville Alliance Church. Kathy and Nancy had a great time shopping at garage sales while Clyde and I enjoyed getting some of the spring projects accomplished. Spring comes a little

There are so many others who offered to be our hosts. Thanks so very much. We were able to see many of our friends at church and at lunch Sunday afternoon and will have an opportunity to renew acquaintances with a few more people before we leave.

Being a part of a community and building lifelong friendships has cemented many relationships in ways that sometimes doesn't happen with family. I think it may be because we choose our friends but are born into our family. I think I persevere with family because that is what I know is right even though I may not like them sometimes as much as my friends.

I wonder, is the real test of character how well I persevere with people who are not necessarily friends or family? Co-workers or neighbors who are not naturally compatible. All of us need people who are supportive and stick with us no matter what our situation. We also all need people in our lives who challenge us to think about our biases and cause us to dig a little deeper into our own souls to confront our darker side.

I wonder how many times I have missed an opportunity to experience the richness of a new relationship because I was not willing to risk putting myself in a new situation. Deep down I know the only thing with eternal value is relationships. So my exhortation to us all today is to renew our effort to care about others.