3 kinds of friends

I was listening to the Chris Evans breakfast show this morning and heard Fr Brian D'Arcy give the thought for the day - and mused how very applicable it was for our members and in fact anyone looking for new friendship in their life - or considering their current friendships.

Fr Brian talked about the three types of friends we can have in our lives - those who come into our lives for a reason; those who come into our lives for a season; and those who last a lifetime.

Those who come into our lives for a reason tend to be friends who meet a passing need - perhaps a shoulder to cry on in a time of grief or who support us during some change in our lives. They are real friends who do a 'job' for a us at this time but who then grow out of our lives.

Those who come into our lives for a season tend to be friends at a significant time of our lives - perhaps say if one was working abroad. Again real friends but those you don't see anymore.

And then there are lifetime lasting friends - those who know you are a good egg even when you are cracked! These friends are God's way of taking care of us.

Perhaps some of the people you'll come across during your friendsfirst membership will be people who fall into the first and second categories. They may not turn out to be your lifelong partner but they could fill a real need and be sent for a reason or season. That's why we say contact all without prejudice.

Fr Brian went on to quote Goethe who said that when we treat people as if they were what they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of being.  I really like this too and it's certainly worth remembering in all your contact with others.

Finally Fr Brian said he like the poet Camou's sentiment the best: "Don't walk infront of me, I may not follow; don't walk behind me I may not lead; walk beside me and be my friend.

A really lovely and thought provoking thought for the day.

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