Philemon 1:7 NLT
'Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people.'
In a busy, online world, making friends can prove difficult. While Facebook suggests we are globally connected, it is all too easy to feel isolated and alone.
Jayne and I want to be a part of a social community, one in which the friendships were a source of joy in and of themselves, not just a resource for the projects that we might accomplish together in God’s name. Having read Ron Sider’s book, Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger (Thomas Nelson) in my 20s, I have carried his phrase, “total availability to and unlimited liability for one another” ever since. I embrace it as much as I draw back from it. It demands everything, and my trust level in other people is lower than when I was young due to some life experiences.
The Japanese have a wonderful word: “kenzoku”. It is translated as meaning “family”, yet describes the deepest of human connectedness. This is a family we choose, not the blood relatives who are thrust upon us. This is a family we journey with, near or far, yet are always there at the point at which we need them. Strong friendships are known to relax the nervous system, strengthen the brain (keeping it healthier longer), and reduce the impact of both emotional and physical pain”. Social science research has identified quantifiable benefits from strong friendships (livescience.com/53315-how-friendships-are-good-for-your-health). Friends are essential to retain as we grow older, for we do better with the ageing process if we manage to sustain friendships beyond blood family. So, church has a great role to play among the retired. Research reveals that friendship actually grows in importance as we age. One research study concluded, “valuing your immediate family is good for your health and happiness at any age. But the older you become, the more important it is to have strong friendship”.
It’s not the number, but the quality of friendships that matter. There can be obstacles, but true friends find a way to overcome these and enjoy the benefits “kenzoku” offers.
QUESTION: How are your friendships?
PRAYER: May I be a good and kind friend to others.

Released on 5 Mar 2020