True Friendship

This mornings readings were centered around the concept of friendship and its role in society.

Lately I have had the pleasure of having many friends come into my life. Over the past three years my circle of friendships has grown in an increasing manner. I have always tended to be somewhat reclusive and retiring which has tended to keep myself somewhat isolated with only a handful of close friends. This has changed as I am allowing myself to be more outgoing and I am being rewarded with not just acquaintances but really good and close friends.

Many of these close friends are quite a distance away which means we can only get together, in the flesh, once or twice a year at festivals or meetings, etc., but some of these friends live in the same city and can be visited on a more regular basis. Last night, for instance, I spent a few hours in the company of amazing women, some already my friends, but some new friends, and the experience was wonderful. An inclusive circle of women friends sharing and talking together. :)

In our net driven society I think that the quality of friendship is often lost. Time seems to be spent in isolation watching television or surfing the net, the "old fashioned" past times of socializing, crafts, women's sewing circles etc. seem to have fallen out of use and this saddens me. I think that the time spent with friends away from technology is invaluable and I will make these activities a priority in my calendar.

The flower of friendship flourishes with the sunshine of love and the water of time. Let's all strive to cultivate a varied and thriving garden of friendship in our lives. :)