Friends

You may or may not have heard that there are three kinds of friends. Friends for a reason, friends for a season and friends for a lifetime. I often hear people categorizing their friends, but friendships evolve. You never know what kind of friend someone will turn out to be until you come to the end of your story.

Over thirty years ago, I had a dear friend named Sally. We worked together and became close friends – so close that I asked her to be my “best man” in my wedding (unfortunately, she was not able to be there with me). Over time, Sally moved away and eventually ended up in Mexico. I hadn’t seen Sally for twenty years or more and we hadn’t communicated for over seven years.

This summer we reconnected and we’ve talked on the phone several times. In February, I’m going to visit Sally and her husband in central Mexico for several days. I already know that our time together will be as if no time has passed at all. It would have been easy for me to think that my friendship with Sally was only for a season, but our friendship has sustained despite the distance and lack of communication.

I have friends now who claim we’ll always be friends, but we really never know for sure. I have friends that I hadn’t seen for decades who are now back in my life. I have friends who I was once very close to, but now have drifted away. I have all sorts of friends I don’t know what category they’ll be in. My point is, friendship is in the moment – not in the past or the future.

I have friends that I don’t see or talk to very often, but when we’re together the love and friendship is palpable and real. I love being in contact with my friends, but friendships are defined in the moment, not in the categories. Rather than try to figure out which friendship category to fit everyone, focus on what kind of friend you will be in the moment.

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