And, I call her friend. : )  This is a comment to one of my posts last week.  It was far too compelling not to share with you all here.  Good thoughts on how to invest, how to love, how to be a friend at an age when so many people seem to be coming and going from our lives, yet our hearts are desiring to build real relationships.  (Also, EB gets another shout out.  No lie,  he is an amazing friend - that guys spent most of his Saturday helping me move into my new place!)

Well...I've only had one real relationship that's been 20 yrs long...thanks to Erik Byland. My bro. But I would like to respond to your musings because I feel like I have learned a lot about this subject,and unfortunately, in a lot of cases, a lot to late.

I haven't been the best of friend to people, yourself included and I'll be the first to admit I've shut people off where I've should have let them in. And now I've realized in order to have a friend that could last no matter what happens- whether proximity of space or the proximity of heart- you have to be that kind of friend.

So should we always love people until it hurts and invest in people until we have nothing left to lose? My answer is yes. Because that's what I would want done to me. And that's what Jesus did. He knew Judas would betray him and Peter would deny him, but he was still there for them. And I have to believe that until the day they died, they never once were unaffected by being with him.

So I think your question of how to invest in a way that lasts is right on. Because life takes us many directions and we meet so many different faces along the way, but if we only touch those who will never hurt us...then we can never fully love. Because perfect love casts out all fear. So maybe love is perfected in spite of our fear. That in what we may fear most- losing someone who means so much to us- we truly find a love that surpasses that.
anyways, that's my humble opinion, from someone whose half the friend they wish they've been but promises to be the friend I wish I've had.   [MEC]