I’ve been in constant meetings today since very early this morning and my brain is fried. It’s been a very good day, but exhausting. When I catch my breath, I’ll try to fill you in on a very exciting missionary opportunity that God is offering to our church, and today was dedicated to getting together with some of the key players.

What made the day even more special was the chance to catch up with some friends we haven’t seen for years, a pastor and his wife from Miami. When our kids were little they knew them as Uncle Russ and Aunt Bev, and we were “relatives” to their kids as well. When you live as a missionary in another country far removed from your birth family, your kids often pick up all sorts of “aunts, “uncles” and “grandparents.” Years ago I used to fly through Miami with great regularity coming and going out of Latin America. I would always work to make time to get with Russ and Bev. Over time, my flight pattern became tightly focused through Houston, a much more direct line of flight as the Houston airport grew in prominence. As a result, Cheryl and I have not seen Russell and Bev for years and have missed them greatly.

Taking advantage of them being in Kansas City for a combination of meetings, Cheryl and I enjoyed dinner with them this evening before I had to teach the Spanish Bible study at church. Our kids are now grown and married with kids of their own. What a blessing to be with this great couple once again! The only problem is that the time was not nearly long enough.

What is a true friend? Yesterday I was writing about what to do when you have been betrayed by a friend. So tonight I am thinking about those friends who are always friends. Our dinner tonight helped me to formulate a bit further my personal definition of true friendship. See if you agree – a friend is someone that you may not see for years, but when you do you pick up right where you left off as though you saw them just yesterday. Do you know what I mean?

I have a number of friends that are like family, yet circumstances don’t allow us to see each other with the frequency I’d like. In fact, many years can pass before being able to connect. Yet when that connection occurs, it’s as though time stood still – except for an ocassional grey hair or two.