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I Have Called You Friends ... John 15:15

Over the past year I have come to see that this simple word Friend holds real power in changing our hearts. It's a word I don't hear to often being used among men, but I've found that when it is delivered from a person's heart something begins to change in that relationship. It's like a de-coding filter that changes how we hear someone's word. This word friend communicates the condition of our heart and desires for the other person. It also reveals that we see value in them and really care about their well-being.

Recently, I've had a friend from my past come back into my life. Paul and I knew each other back in the late 60's before I was married. We lived life on the edge doing all the things hippies did. We even lived together a short time in a condemned house near Fairfax Circle. After I got married and went to Viet Nam, Paul and I lost contact. Our lives went in different directions in many ways. Over the years I've wondered how he was doing and I'd track him down through his parents.

Over our 38 year disjointed relationship I have found Paul in some very dark places filled with failure, rejection and hopelessness. Each time the Father put Paul on my heart I'd simply reach out to him with a desire to help my friend who had fallen on hard times. However, more often than not our reunions were short lived because of the magnitude of Paul's problems and my own life.

For some reason I've never stopped caring about Paul over the years. I didn't think I had ever really helped him during those dark times; but know matter how ruff Paul looked on the outside, all I've ever seen was someone who had a heart for other people.

Recently Paul has moved back in the area to work in his brother's real estate business. When he past the Real Estate exam he called and left me a message with his good news. "J.R., I thought you would like to know my life seems to be turning around. Hope to talk with you soon." Shortly after his call we had coffee in Oakton, so I could hear his story about how he had chosen to leave his secluded trailer out in the woods of North Carolina and decided to re-engage with life. During our hour or so talk I asked him what lead him to call me with this news. His answer touched my heart. "You're my only real Friend. Other than my family you're the only person who never gave up on me. Because of that, I thought you should know things were getting better for me."

Friendship was what Christ used to change the world's perspective about God's heart towards them. His simple action of befriending the un-wanted delivered a message of hope into darkened lives that crossed his path.

I unknowingly over the years, by my simple disjointed friendship with Paul, had made Him feel like he had worth and value to me; that I wished things would get better and that I believed they would. By telling Paul he was my friend every time I saw him connected us in a special way.

I'm hoping this note will encourage you to use this powerful word friend with those the Father brings into your life. By having relationships of the heart, each of us will in time experience the heart of our Fathers has towards us.

Oh, by the way, if I haven't told you lately, I consider you my friend.