A little while back I wrote how my good friend, Lee, with whom I greatly miss talking, had addressed the matter of 'best friends'. Ever since then I've been cognizant of the ways I describe and address the people in my life. Don't want to give them pecking order in my life, nor would I want to be sorted by anyone on their list of friends. I have some friends I see on a regular basis, consider them to be good friends, dear ones. I have other friends, one in particular, whom is especially dear to me, but live many miles away.
Most of the time the people I hang out with share things in common with me, be it location, religion, politics, or history. It is easier to be with people with whom you can freely speak rather than having to guard and measure language. I have a friend with whom I spend a good deal of time with quite different political beliefs (opposite of mine) and is not a practicing Christian. Oddly enough I rarely speak to her regarding her beliefs but am open and free with mine. Once she told me how nice it was to be with me and not have stuff shoved in her hands or religion forced on her by me. Evidently others have done this in the past. Politics, on the other hand, is most often avoided.
Interestingly enough, this showed up on Facebook feed tonight! I hope my friends bring out the best in me...
She shares my interest in the PACE for Girls program, has participated in events I've hosted and given generously in support. She also shares my interest in helping with the homeless and indigent via blessings bags, though I don't know if she's acted on her interest. We both shopped for and donated school supplies at the beginning of the school year which was fun. But, she made it quite clear to me that she has zero interest in supporting the women's health center because they promote preserving baby's lives. She is VERY pro-choice, she told me, VERY. I didn't argue or respond to this announcement, nor was I surprised by it. More saddened to hear it put into words, like, who says that?? Why would someone not want women with unwanted pregnancies supported rather than encouraged to abort? I just don't get it.
