Coffee with Friends

It was a long weekend last week, so I thought I'd go to Los Baños, Laguna for some R & R. And while there, I got a massage, and vegged out most of the time. Until I decided to tell my college friends I was in town.

We hurriedly organized a get-together—just coffee and chit-chat—and then it's off to Manila for me. And while I was waiting for the bus to arrive, I suddenly realized how much I missed my friends!

BG, Elen, Alma, Gigi
There was so much food and coffee and chit-chat. I couldn't believe how long it had been since I'd seen my girl friends. Ten years? Twenty? And as we chatted away for three hours, I couldn't imagine how much we have gone through in our lives. Our conversation revolved around spouses, children, parents (and the absence of any of them), other friends, the political scene in our town, work, agreeing not to talk about the RH Bill, business opportunities, the food in front of us...

The evening was not enough for us to cover everything. I wish I could've stayed. But then again, I felt an assurance that I can always come back so we could do it again. Isn't that what friendship is about?

I met them in 1987, during the summer of our college freshman year. You could say we've gone through a lot—from playing women's basketball, to having boyfriends, to losing boyfriends, through passing grades, and flunking. These people kept me afloat during my "dark nights". And I hope, in my own little way, I could help them in their own "dark nights".

The Bible carries numerous stories on friendship. There's David and Jonathan, (1 Samuel 18:1-3, 20:17, 42; 2 Samuel 1:26), Job's friends, Elijah and Elisha (2 Kings 2:2), Ruth and Naomi (Ruth 1:16-17). Even Jesus declared friendship towards us, to the point of laying down His life for us whom He calls friends. (John 15:13-15)

I like the verse A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. (Proverbs 17:17, NLT) And I am really blessed to have friendships that will stay, even through "sick & sin". Three hours of chit-chat over coffee is never enough for friends to catch up. Heck, even a lifetime is not enough. But as long as there is coffee, or food, or a story to share, I see us doing this for as long as we could.

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