The story of David and Jonathan in the Old Testament is one of the most endearing and emotional pieces one can find. The words describing their spiritual and emotional connection are truly riveting ... the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

Can there be a better definition of friendship than that? I've written about friendship in some previous Ponderings but felt as we enter into 2012 that it deserves our attention again. You see, none of us will survive the stresses, strains, and disappointments of this ensuing year without the love and support of our friends. While none of us knows what awaits us, we do know there are our dear friends willing to be there for us and to help sustain us.

C. S. Lewis is right that many deep friendships are born when we meet a person who has experienced what we have in life. In those encounters we find ourselves connected to someone who knows the path we walk, who understands the feelings we have, and who can empathize with all that we're facing. Truly God is at work in our lives when that person or persons come our way and we find this grand connection.

Now the question, of course, is whether we are faithful in celebrating this gift of friendship. Do we seek to stay connected with this person or these persons? Do we share honestly with them the role they play in our lives? Do we faithfully give thanks to God for His gift of them to us?

Pat and I just recently had the opportunity to personally reconnect with some persons who were in my first fulltime appointment in 1975 and who became rather quickly dear, dear friends. I baptized their first child and later performed the marriage of that child. We've celebrated over the years the birth of children, the sadness of loss, and the joy of connection. We, however, had little chance to be together because of our respective locations. When we did get together, it was if time had stood still. It was as if we had just seen each other yesterday. Isn't that the way it is with true, dear, God-sent friends?

Thanks be to God for those who cross our path in life and become wonderful gifts along life's full journey!