Toast to a friendship
Toast to a friendship
Throughout all these years, I've made many many friends, and some became my really close friends and those I share very honest thoughts and feelings with. One person that I became more appreciative of is pal, especially when we began taking courses in seminary together since 2001.
Pal and I met at an interview when we applied to be Christian Ministry Staff in the Methodist school - that was in April 2000. Our interview slots were one after the other, and while waiting for our turns, we began to chat very casually. It didn't occur to me that we will become very good friends then ... =)
Later on, both of us were accepted into the ministry but we worked in different schools, so the only time we met up was during our once a month school ministry meeting. Again, it was just mere acquaintance between us.
I guess our friendship really took off when we decided to enroll for seminary courses together, beginning as an occasional student, taking one module at a time, while still working in the school ministry. We took our day off from school for this purpose, and since the first class, we began to register for the same courses so that we can help one another in our studies and to cheer each other on. Around the same time in the year 2001 or 2002, pal went through very difficult times and was hoping to be able to share her feelings with someone. I remember us sitting together in the plane to Bali, where we had our annual school ministry staff retreat - that was when she began to open up to me and share really honest thoughts with me. Since then, we became friends that can talk about anything, and share about everything.
One reason we appreciated each other so much is that we have a common understanding that besides each other, we have other friends too. So while we want to spend time cultivating our friendships, we know that when we are unable to, it doesn't mean rejection on the part of the other. We've also been able to share honest thoughts and feelings with each other (very often, ungodly and unchristian thoughts) because we know we simply need to ventilate. Yet the most wonderful thing is that we don't perceive each other with judgmental attitudes, asking within ourselves, "how come she's like that? or how can she entertain such thoughts?" ... we know that deep down we still love God dearly and wants to obey Him in every way we can, and our honest sharings are just reflective of our very human emotions and responses.
Pal and I can be so forthright with each other that we can simply tell each other, "I don't like this thing you did to me ... or I don't appreciate this thing or that." We can also call each other in any time of the day simply to ask, "how's your day?" ... and we know that when we can't talk during those moments and tell the other partly so honestly, it didn't mean "I don't like to receive your call" .. or any kind of rejection.
I cherished the times when we went places together, study together, agonize together, talk nonsense together. This is certainly one very very good friendship God has blessed me with, and we both hope that this friendship will not end with our less frequent meeting as our college life comes to a close. Pal is one person I'll definitely make time to talk and meet, despite having other new friends and commitment that will come along my way in the future.
Thank you Lord for blessing me with this wonderful friendship, and a toast to me, my dear friend and pal!
Throughout all these years, I've made many many friends, and some became my really close friends and those I share very honest thoughts and feelings with. One person that I became more appreciative of is pal, especially when we began taking courses in seminary together since 2001.
Pal and I met at an interview when we applied to be Christian Ministry Staff in the Methodist school - that was in April 2000. Our interview slots were one after the other, and while waiting for our turns, we began to chat very casually. It didn't occur to me that we will become very good friends then ... =)
Later on, both of us were accepted into the ministry but we worked in different schools, so the only time we met up was during our once a month school ministry meeting. Again, it was just mere acquaintance between us.
I guess our friendship really took off when we decided to enroll for seminary courses together, beginning as an occasional student, taking one module at a time, while still working in the school ministry. We took our day off from school for this purpose, and since the first class, we began to register for the same courses so that we can help one another in our studies and to cheer each other on. Around the same time in the year 2001 or 2002, pal went through very difficult times and was hoping to be able to share her feelings with someone. I remember us sitting together in the plane to Bali, where we had our annual school ministry staff retreat - that was when she began to open up to me and share really honest thoughts with me. Since then, we became friends that can talk about anything, and share about everything.
One reason we appreciated each other so much is that we have a common understanding that besides each other, we have other friends too. So while we want to spend time cultivating our friendships, we know that when we are unable to, it doesn't mean rejection on the part of the other. We've also been able to share honest thoughts and feelings with each other (very often, ungodly and unchristian thoughts) because we know we simply need to ventilate. Yet the most wonderful thing is that we don't perceive each other with judgmental attitudes, asking within ourselves, "how come she's like that? or how can she entertain such thoughts?" ... we know that deep down we still love God dearly and wants to obey Him in every way we can, and our honest sharings are just reflective of our very human emotions and responses.
Pal and I can be so forthright with each other that we can simply tell each other, "I don't like this thing you did to me ... or I don't appreciate this thing or that." We can also call each other in any time of the day simply to ask, "how's your day?" ... and we know that when we can't talk during those moments and tell the other partly so honestly, it didn't mean "I don't like to receive your call" .. or any kind of rejection.
I cherished the times when we went places together, study together, agonize together, talk nonsense together. This is certainly one very very good friendship God has blessed me with, and we both hope that this friendship will not end with our less frequent meeting as our college life comes to a close. Pal is one person I'll definitely make time to talk and meet, despite having other new friends and commitment that will come along my way in the future.
Thank you Lord for blessing me with this wonderful friendship, and a toast to me, my dear friend and pal!
Comments