lenten journal: finding a friend

Ginger and I went to the movie the other afternoon and as we were coming out of the film I mentioned it reminded me of a friend from Fort Worth who was a minister at another church whom I used to call in the middle of the afternoon and get him to go to the movies with me. When I got in my car, I called him -- after twenty years -- and left a message. The next afternoon, he called back. Here's one of the ways I have unpacked the experience.

finding a friend

I called an old friend this week because I remembered him as I came out of an afternoon movie -- after twenty years I called

to say I remembered him trusting somehow the tethers of friendship and forgiveness had held strong in our silence

I was standing in the middle of the grocery when he called back  and found me among the dried beans and mushrooms

he has grown children I have never seen; he had to ask where I live now -- and yet when I heard his voice I heard my friend

there is no way to make up for all that was lost or missed . . . but grace does not require we keep score, does it?

choosing instead to celebrate -- beyond our failures and faults and all the might have beens -- that we found each other

who knows what we will make of this second chance we have both spent years and lives apart and away

and I am not aiming for a greeting card moment; I do want to say thanks for finding what was lost

yes. thanks.

Peace, Milton