“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: 'What! You too?'"
So says C.S. Lewis.
Not too many go into the ring with a man like him. In fact, I wouldn’t enter the same arena!
However, I recall a friendship beginning in quite a different way with a relationship that began four decades ago and has withstood the test of time...
Only by self-description and not by any empirical data, I entered college as the most insecure 18 year-old alive.
Within weeks, I met John Infosino who was the Resident Advisor for the fifth floor of dorm ominously called “The Towers.”
It was there that he invited me to a keg party and welcomed me as if I were an upper classman.
Our friendship broadened to include the “You, Too?” commonalities that Lewis says forge tight bonds. But that would come later.
Call this one an anomaly, but there is a reason I bring it up.
Whether John and I had a shared orientation toward servanthood and acceptance or whether I simply knew that he had these qualities that I was missing, I do not know. I only know that this is what started our friendship.
It’s probably safe to say that a lot of friendships ignite from similar interests. But if opposites attract, could there not by a compelling argument to be aware of that God puts others in our paths that are distinctly different for obvious reasons?
PORTAL TO HEAVEN: While having common interests and simultaneous serious differences are not mutually exclusive, there may be potential friendships to be deliberately forged in the fire of dissimilarities as a portal to heaven for our welfare.
Moses said to the Lord, ‘Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.’ Moses said, ‘Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.’ Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, ‘What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth…
Exodus 4:10,13-16 NIV
COMMENTS:
On Mother's Day & Gardens...
Amidst the stressors of jam packed busy days and raising three boys and two dogs, your daily e-mail gives us an opportunity to stop and "smell the roses" so to speak :)
Jeanine Donatali, Clifton Park, NY
Great tribute to mothers Bob!
Frank Wray, Delmar, NY
I remember when I made my First Communion and was taught the rosary . Back then the rosary meant very little to me . We also learned to pray the Hail Mary , again it did not have meaning , until one day as I began to understand the meaning of the the passion and death of Jesus did pieces of my faith come together. Many years passed I continued to pray and found myself somewhat lost in prayer. I was not aware of my surroundings , my prayers took me away to a very calm peaceful place . During my prayer I heard a very soft voice and a light glowed in front of me . There in front of me stood the outlined figure of Mary the Mother of Jesus with her hands folded in prayer like form with the rosary draped over . She spoke to me in a very soft voice as I pulled the blanket over my face and said ,"take the blanket away do not be afraid , I will always be with you " . I cried . This occurrence happen to me in my elementary years ( I was in the 3rd grad ), and it was in Easter Sunday.Now I have children of my own and understand the pain mothers experience , especially when their children are hurt . We shed many tears , tears of joy and pain , Mary has given us the example of motherhood and of not being afraid
Antoinette Renzi, Guilderland, NY