A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born
for adversity. –Proverbs 17:17
I recall a number of years ago when the Internet
was getting popular and everyone was starting to send and receive emails.
All of a sudden we were connecting and reconnecting with friends, family,
co-workers, and acquaintances. These days, however, plain old email does seem a little
boring, right? I mean, we now have Facebook, blogging, texting,
Skype (Internet on-screen phone calling), and Google messenger to name
a few. However, I cannot help but smile when I reflect on the
time when email was so new and exciting.
During this early experience with the Internet, I
was able to reconnect with a family who had been members of a church
in another state where I had been the pastor. Once I received
my former church member’s email address I excitedly sat down and sent
him a detailed message bringing him up to date on all that was going
on with my family and ministry. I told him about my family, what
our sons all were doing, what was going on in Andrea’s life, and how
the Lord was blessing our ministry. I even told him about the
puppy we had adopted. A few days later, there was a message in
my email inbox from my friend. I eagerly opened it and read the
following: “Dan: My old friend. -Doug”
That was it. Somehow I thought Doug might have
taken the time to provide a little more detail as to what was going
on in his life, yet he seemed content to simply acknowledge me as an
old friend. I have to admit I felt a little slighted. I
thought, “Come on, Doug; you can do better than that! This is
1998 – we are on the Internet here! Give me a few details.”
However, as I read the message I thought of what a sincere man my old
friend is and how when it comes to electronic communication he is indeed
a man of few words. I contented myself with the knowledge that
Doug considered me an old friend.
The Word of God says that a friend loves us at all
times. Even though my friend did not have a great amount to share
in his brief email, what he did say spoke volumes. He thought
of me as a friend. I honestly have no doubt that even these years
later were I to call him with a favor he would do anything in his power
to help. He is that kind of faithful friend. Have you considered
that a true friend does not have to say it, but expresses friendship
through actions, trust, and deeds? This is the test of true friendship;
the test is not in words, but in the way they are always there for us
when we need them.
I am sad to say that in recent years I have lost
touch with my friend Doug. I am thinking of tracking down his
email address and saying hello and bringing him up to date on all that
has been going on in my life these recent years. On the other
hand, I might just make it much more succinct and say something like
this:
Doug:
My old friend.
Dan
I am sure that would do just fine.
