January 7th, 2014 Henri Nouwen's Daily Meditation ||Commentary by Nicole Collins

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Daily-Meditation--The-Gift-of-Friendship.html?soid=1011221485028&aid=ut5a7eKqkBU

In Case the link above to Henri Nouwen’s Daily Meditation doesn’t work—

Tuesday January 7, 2014
The Gift of Friendship

Friendship is one of the greatest gifts a human being can receive. It is a bond beyond common goals, common interests, or common histories. It is a bond stronger than sexual union can create, deeper than a shared fate can solidify, and even more intimate than the bonds of marriage or community. Friendship is being with the other in joy and sorrow, even when we cannot increase the joy or decrease the sorrow. It is a unity of souls that gives nobility and sincerity to love. Friendship makes all of life shine brightly. Blessed are those who lay down their lives for their friends.

My Commentary:

Friends are a gift to your life.  My oldest and best friend I’ve had for 25 going on 26 years!  We have been through thick and thin as well as have seen each other grow and transform by God working in each others’ lives.  Relationship, fellowship, companionship are the most connected with and through love or more specifically as φίλος or Philos which means brotherly love. Though the Greek has several other more detailed words for understanding love… such as Eros Eros and agape agape. Philos is the best word to define the divine goal of friendship. 

We must always hold central in our lives Christ commandment to love God and each other: (Matthew 22) ““’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸This is the greatest and first commandment. ³⁹And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (John 13:34-35) “³⁴I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.³⁵By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

A part of our discipleship spiritual formation journey which Nouwen eludes to in today’s meditation is seeking to embody that lesson taught by Jesus to let love be the foundation of our New Nature.  Love is the Spirit’s fuel to allow us to be the children of GRACE, God is hoping for us to become.  We are a society advancing in many things… except when it comes to one another.  We must diligently fight Satan’s efforts to tear down and destroy relationships.  If we become spiritually curved inward, we devour for self and deflect or isolate ourselves from others.  We join the evil one’s efforts to polarize and castigate others over loving and serving them AND growing in relationship with them!

Look into the story of your lives, where they are leading—see and cherish those whom have walked long side you.  I know I have!

God Bless Your Tuesdays!

Nicole Collins