Archive for June, 2010

Being ” on the road”  or more precisely  ”in the air or on the train track”  for now close to 7 weeks of a 26 week sojorn, has made me  very aware how important it is to have friends …..even though in 50% of the 4 cases we have not seem these friends for close to 20 years. In the case of one of the other two friends ( Colin and Mary from London) who we have spoken with much affection in previous blogs  whilst we have seen them a number of times when they have visited us  briefly in New Zealand , the friendship has endured some 33 years ” from a distance”.

So what makes long distance friendships work? What makes being able to pick up the threads so easy? .

To be able to start speaking and laugh and relive memories as though you had seen them at the supermarket just days before. Friendships are not measured in miles but in a feeling of compatibility and love trowards the other person.

I think in a friedship there is a very real commonality between friends. You both have similar interests , maybe have walked down similar pathways of experiences in life. Maybe you have watched each others children grow into adults and maybe the children have gifted you at similar times grandchildren.

What ever the reason these friendships have endured and if anything been enhanced.Growing old in parallel is a nice way to go….it softens the blow!!! When you see friends after many years they really haven’t changed all that much….maybe more wrinkles, grey or less hair.. wastelines (opps waistlines) that have expanded somewhat…..

The only thing that has changed and the thing you really notice is the children and the grand children….how they have grown up both in maturity and in height.

Having friends is really really important especially the Diamond Valued ones. They are literally priceless.They are worth protecting, nurturing and not putting them away and not renewing and revitalising on a regular basis. Even if you have little news to share it is always good to tell your friends how much you love them and what they mean to you  even if it is from a great distance.

And the new ones you pick up on the way….the lovely couple who went out of their way in Lyon to help us, the young 15 year old Brianna  who ” just happened” to share a flight from Boston to Miami but who we found to have so much in common ( especially with sponsoring children from Compassion International the same as us) who was going to give 3 weeks of her holiday time to help the Slum Dweller Children in Guatemala by washing their hair and cleaning them and telling them of the Love Of God through his son Jesus Christ….

The list does not end there and we know we will be blessed by others who ” just happen” to cross our paths. I do not believe in coincidence but I know they are there for a purpose and not just for our purpose but a mutual benefit that brings value to everyone.

So sharpen the pencil, unblock the bio, start taping on the keyboard, pickup the phone …..do whatever it takes…..but do it today. As we age everyday is a blessing …..I will talk again soon.

Lindsay Walker

30 June 2010