Story of a Friendship

I am interspersing some deeply touching e-mails and messages I've received during thee months of "lingering" and they have been precious beyond measure.  Gives me glimpses into the beauty of people that is so often laying just below the surface, but we seldom get to glimpse the depth of thought, longing and and sweet passion that drives them to keep pressing on despite immense challenges and the endlessly changing nature and collision of what was familiar and good to us yet is morphing on a daily basis leaving us disillusioned and often and confused.

But we keep coming back to truth, clinging tightly burning brightly.

Pulling each other along the pathway to the great light and hope that is our Life. 

Here below are the unchangeables.

John 1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was already with God in the beginning. Everything came into existence through him. Not one thing that exists was made without him. He was the source of life, and that life was the light for humanity. The light shines in the dark, and the dark has never extinguished it.

so in my blessed position of receiving this plethora of love in a huge variety of ways, I feel compelled to share this letter from a dear, seemingly unlikely, friend.

It was obviously a God thing.

And thank goodness.

She has blessed me and mine in countless ways and loves deeply with a heart of Gold.

Again, I hesitate to share these missives, as I don't want to appear any bigger or better than I am, as I am most of aware of my endless failings, but therefore also most of aware of God's amazing grace, so it is for His glory and for your encouragement to reach out to that one you'd like to befriend.

Be the first to extend a hand.

You never know the sweet glory that might surprise you in a brilliant new friendship thaat challenges you and them to dig deeper into the gold....

So here is my gifted writer friend telling the story of an unlikely friendship.

Dearest Dear Karen, 

Thank you so much for the beautiful birthday card and the beautiful pottery dish.  Both will be always and deeply treasured. The verse you chose

is especially meaningful to me as I really long for a way out of the (spiritual) wilderness in which I have wandered for some time.  I am searching anew for the streams, and for

something new to spring up. For whatever time is left to me on this earth, I will be a seeker of God and He will be my delight

. Please forgive all of us for causing you some delay in receiving the delights that await you. We will never have enough time but we have each of us needed some time to prepare ourselves for living in this world without you. What a huge hole your absence will leave.  What treasures and tears we will each have remembering our time with you.  And  now, speaking just for myself, I thank you will all my heart for your friendship over the years.  It has meant so much to be included in the throngs of your friends. How I treasure your kind ways, your enthusiasms, your insights and prayers and laughter and joy.  What an example you have been to me.  Thank you for demonstrating the grace of God.  How precious our car coffee dates, at the pet park, at the water front, our times shared. 

I know I've told you this before but I first noticed you in the balcony at New Life as you came out of class teaching the girls.  I was struck with your smile and your beauty and your long hair.  Then I saw you once more as you entered a coffee shop with some other women, laughing and beautiful.  I think somewhat unconsciously I wished I knew you.  I wasn't still at the Vineyard so what were the chances?

Then, wonder of wonders, Patrice came to our school -  and Erin had a new friend.  Ah, there might be a chance now for me.  Do you remember the evening they were at the scuba place  and  you opened  your car door and let me in for a visit?  And then you opened your huge heart and made room for one more person in  your life, me.  

I simply do not have the words to express what knowing you has meant in my life.  I can't really process it myself. I ask myself why I cry so much at the thought of losing you. In part of course it's because I grieve that YOU have to say goodbye, to go through the Vallery.  I would spare you that.  And I cry for your children who I know will be lost withoutyou.  I cry for my personal loss of your friendship and I cry for all of us who will so so miss you.  And then I cry for the power and example a life so well lived, for the mystery and  trust that God placed in giving you so much to deal with,  for the impact, the beauty, the glory and the love that is you. 

May you know the comfort of the God whom you have always loved  and who loves you beyond measure.  May He give you courage and peace moment by moment. 

so much love and gratitude, 

I don't know if you have energy to wade through this - likely not - no matter.   

 

Dallas Willard, "our experience (in death) will not be fundamentally different in character from what it is now, though it will change in significant details.  The life we now have as the persons we now are will continue, and continue in the universe in which we now exist. Our experience will be much clearer, richer, and deeper of course, because it will be unrestrained by the limitations now imposed upon us by our dependence upon our body.  It will, instead, be rooted in the broader and more fundamental reality of God's kingdom and will have.. far greater scope and power."    ... we are not deprived of a body, any more that Jesus himself was.  ...the mortal part of us is swallowed up by life. We know even now, and by experience, the reality of a life that is not of the physical body. ... As our physical body fades out, our glory body approaches and our spiritual substance grows ricer and deeper.