The Team community building business has indeed carved out a unique position in the world of commerce with the concept of LIFE (Living Intentionally For Excellence). Since many of the people (blogs) whom I am following have already explained this concept in great detail - I won't cover all the aspects again here, but I do intend to focus on each of the 8 F's over the next few weeks to give you a feel for, and perhaps inspire you to consider, how you apply each of them in your life. I stress the word apply, because the concept of Life is just that - it is developing an understanding of each of the 8 F's and then applying them into your life with specific intent.
The first of the F's is Faith. My relationship with God is personal and it will suffice to say that I believe, and I know why I believe what I believe - I pray that you can say the same about your faith!
The second F is Family - I have one and I love them unconditionally.
The third F is Friendship, my topic for today's thoughts.
I was talking with a friend (a very dear friend) about planning a summer trip and whom of our friends we would invite to come and stay with us. This got us both discussing who we consider to be our friends and why? I mean you don't really invite just anyone you "know" to come and live with you for a period of time do you? There's a difference between an acquaintance and true friendship, yes? I don't mean to sound harsh but given the key differences between the two, I believe that most of us have much more of the former than the latter, and I'm not so sure that many people stop and realize this until its too late and someone disappoints us.
I believe that the key differences between the two are the value and degree of trust that is shared between the parties concerned. Not to say that I don't value and trust my acquaintances, but certainly true friends deservedly have a much deeper level of mutual commitment. I place a high degree of value on the fact that I have a few people in my life that I can be whatever and whomever I am with with zero fear that I won't be ridiculed or shunned (at least not in a mean-spirited way!). A true friend has your back, has your best interest in mind, and is free to say whatever they feel is right because trust has been established and they speak with love in their heart. Some of the other words I could use are: mutually beneficial, easy, forgiving, grace filled, flexible. Far too often I hear people in general complain about how a "friend" has let them down or just plain don't have nice things to say about others that they title their "friends". If someone is really your friend or vice-versa, such actions represent a complete lack of regard for the character and understanding of the concept of friendship just described.
So, that said - how many people in your life truely meet these criteria and Is it possible to have too many true friends? Is there a limit on how many people you can truly know, love, and trust on an up-close and personal level? My friend said, "yes, because part of true friendship is that you are there (physically) for that person whenever they need you." I disagree on that point. While it is true that you can't be all things to all people, you can develop many deep friendships over time and not necessarily with the person next door. The key factor here is trust. President R.Reagan once said, "Trust, but verify!" Therefore it can be given freely but it takes time to develop and earn it deeply.
The people in my life that share their lives, thoughts, and dreams with me have come from both near and far. I grew up and went to school with some, others have come from my career associations , and still others from random events in my life. I have only a few great friendships and until recently I really hadn't considered that more would be a good thing. I always thought that less is more, but now as I grow older and have discovered a new appreciation for learning, reading, sharing, and growing - I feel that we have so much to learn from and share with each other. Perhaps it is God's intention for all of us to develop and have deep understanding for our fellow man and "to be there" means not just physically, but emotionally - both far and wide. I urge you to dare to build as many true friendships as you can, for the benefits are many and the impact on our society will be great.
High trust amongst men shall lead to His grace spread freely upon the earth.
Live Well - Be Well!
Stephen
