Friends

Went for lunch with some lovely people today - why do the lovely ones have to be moving away!! Richard is obviously a theologian at heart, so conversations are always interesting and Trish is just a bubbly, interesting, lovely lady. She's slightly quirky and I would have loved to have had time to get to know her better, but I guess these relationships, you just have to make the most of as they come along. I have had a long line of friends like that who have come into my life for a short, treasured time and then have moved away - you just have to make the most of it whilst it lasts. I never get used to it happening but for some reason it has been one of the things that has been constantly happening in my life from an early age. I guess I am fortunate enough to know lots of people from all over the world, especially during the time at I lived and worked at Capernwray Hall Bible school and holiday centre. Each year around 200 students would attend from around 30 different countries in the world, I would get to know them for 6-9 months and then they were gone. It gave great visiting opportunities, to Switzerland, Canada, Bulgaria and then Austria, which is where I ended up living when Michl and I first got married. We recently had a visit from the Pastors of the church where we worked in Austria which was a very special surprise, we spent a few hours with them and it was as if we had seen each other just yesterday. It's funny how some relationships are like that, you can pick them up again just where you left off and there is still a bond between you. One thing I find really quite hard though, is that as leaders and founders of a church and charity, its hard to build close strong relationships that are of mutual understanding and respect. We are yet to find another relationship with someone that we can trust and share in depth some of the struggles and challenges we face, someone who has walked a similar path and can empathise with our situation. I guess it will be hard to find, as our situation is so unique and 'out of the box' that who can possibly fathom or understand it in full. I guess not even we do at times, it is so organic and changing all the time. I can not imagine doing anything else with my life though and I am still passionate about the things we do. It's far from easy though and we need all the support and friendships and relationships we can grasp hold of, what ever level of friendship that is. I do need to seek a few more friends out though who are not solely dependant on me for spiritual guidance, and I am determined to make that my aim for the next year!! Although I am not sure you can aim to make friends I think they more just come along when you're least expecting them!! :)