UNCOMMON BECOMES COMMON

Hello. We have very little in common, except that I LIKE you. Do you want to be my friend? We may allow calmness, a feeling of wholeness, pleasure and happiness to rise as one, out of our friendship--our togetherness--at least for today. Thank You, God!
The cat and the bird to the right, are examples of "friends" from two different worlds, who know none other than that happiness which their collaboration as friends engenders. (My cat--Bert--told me he's seen enough "ugly dog" pictures on the blogs to last him nine lifetimes, so I posted a "Cat" shot today, to mollify him and me--and my TWO lifetimes.)

FRIENDS plus ATTACHMENTS

One of my good blogger friends--click on: Kristin--inspired this topic with her Monday blog. However, I had already been thinking about it--while riding my bike Monday morning in the new dawn--on my way to the meeting of the NEW DAWN group. To be really truthful, these thoughts were beginning to form during a phone conversation with my wonderful friend of nine months, who lives near Denver.

My family is first, they are (to an extent) lovingly non-removable, non-renewable, and irreplaceable. But I gotta tell ya--I CHERISH MY FRIENDS! And maybe too much.

Friends are truly among God's greatest gifts to me, they are the stars in my earthly heaven. They enjoy to see me happy, they are saddened instantly in the time of my sorrow, they silently thrill if God has allowed me an accomplishment of note, they are--to me--PURE GOLD! Yet, they are not "attached!"

My friends and family mingle into that 'circle of wagons' which become guardians of my oftentimes wayward thoughts and behaviors, my support in neediness, and love...well, just 'because'.

The problem--if indeed it be a problem--arises when I depend on that friend or friends, or family, or Motor Scooter, or house, or car, or job, or group so much so, that I would base my happiness on that 'connection' alone.

In other words, if I say to a friend (etc.) "I depend totally on you for my true happiness", that's not a good sign, buddy. I can say (think) something like this, properly: "When you and I are together, a happiness arises between us, which I cherish as God's gift to each of us, for the (moment, day, year(s), whatever)." Then, "When you--or I-- must move on, I will thank Him who lent you to me for these memorable moments, and I will be grateful to God, for my knowing, loving, you."

Invariably--in those cases--God does have something else in mind for each of us...but it is not easy to "let go", and let Him.

Of course, I am occasionally blest with nurturing a relationships as "friends-for-life" and who of us does not wish for more than a few of those? I have several friends--of course--and keep always open-minded to greet any new people God has waiting for me, whether on blogs, in AA meetings, at work, at play, or even in my families.

I must remember that a friend is put in my life by God, for His Own use and purposes. When God blesses a friendship, much can be accomplished for Him, in His Name

One more thing. A true friend of mine does not have to be always in agreement with me conceptually regarding politics, religion--even AA--or my understanding of a Higher Power. Just that we support one another in each other's world. Saying that--I have to admit, that a seemingly perfect match of friends is those who DO share many persuasions of beliefs -grin! (Now, who is prefekt?) LOL!

Hopefully and most assuredly, how 'bout all you friends join me in staying sober this Tuesday!

Peace, and love, my blogging Peeps.
Sincerely,
Steve E.