Today's world is complicated, to say the least. Countries at war with each other; a constant threat of terrorism; global economic turmoil; civil unrest; moral and ethical battles in our courtrooms; heated policy debates in our schools, our churches, our workplaces, and even our homes. It seems like every day the news just keeps getting worse and worse.
In the face of despair and disillusionment, many people turn to bad habits to distract them - drugs, drinking, gambling, pornography, overeating, or anything that will give them some temporary relief and take their mind off what's happening in the real world. But the key word in that statement is the word "temporary." For a permanent solution to easing tension and soothe the rough waters of the world, you can't beat the support and encouragement of a friend.
Friendship is one of the most basic, most essential human experiences. Every major religion in the world has described the importance of friendship, from the Greco-Roman story of the friendship of Pylades and Orestes, to the tale of David and Jonathan in the Abrahamic religions. In the Bible, Jesus said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Discussions and analysis of friendship is included in many disciplines, including sociology, philosophy, anthropology, psychology, and even zoology.
The idea of friendship consists of a basic understanding between people, involving a complex array of emotions - mutual interests, affection and esteem, respect, and the ability to offer help or service to others in times of need. Friends are glad to see each other and welcome the opportunity to spend time together. Some friends exchange advice with each other; some exchange recipes, books, movies, and hobbies; some exchange jokes; some exchange e-mails and letters. Friends help each other in times of trouble and exult with each other in times of joy and excitement. For many people, friendship is an elaborate, ongoing dance of keeping things equal and staying in touch; for others, friendship is as simple as just knowing that you have someone you can trust to always be there for you.
Friends - true friends - are honest, supportive, encouraging, empathetic, and loving. They don't care about how much money you have, where you work, what kind of background you come from, or what you will be able to do for them. One popular anonymous quotation gives a very good definition of the value of a true friend: "Money might make you wealthy, but a real friend makes you rich." Many famous authors and poets have expounded on the value of friendship:
"A friend is one who knows us, but loves us anyway." - Fr. Jerome Cummings
"What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies." - Aristotle
"Friendship multiplies the good of life and divides the evil." - Baltasar Gracian (1647)
"A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out." - Walter Winchell
"Your friend is your needs answered." - Kahil Gibran
The great poet Robert Louis Stevenson said, "A friend is a present you give yourself." And Marlene Dietrich added to that sentiment: "It's the ones you can call up at 4:00 a.m. that really matter." The times we're living in now are certainly proving that statement to be true. With the future uncertain and ongoing strife in the world, the greatest miracle you can experience is to have a true friend who will always be there, no matter what - a friend that you can call up at 4:00 a.m. if you need to.
