The finer points of friendship: Fun is fun

This seems like an obvious one, doesn't it?

But my posts about friendship have been kind of heavy so far. And I'll admit it, I love to sit down with my dear ones and have a good old D&M (deep and meaningful). I want to know what's going on in the inner sanctum.

However, a close friend pointed out to me this past summer that shared experiences build relationships in ways that talking can't. That's a good word. She's right. After she said that, I began to notice how much my summer friendships grew while mountain biking, doing crafts or jumping off the high dive wearing life jackets as diapers.

My new friend Sarah and I decided to go for a walk last Friday. We picked the Sacramento River Trail, planning to compare notes on our school experiences. She and her husband, Steve, have asked us to be their mentors, so many of our conversations have been intense and thoughtful.

On our walk, something magical happened. We came across this prayer labyrinth, a maze of stones forming circular pathways with prayers painted on rocks and sticks. Some were decidedly Christian prayers; others were generic words of life and optimism. There was even a tribute to a long, lost beloved black Labrador. Beside the labyrinth was a ribbon tree decorated with strips of fabric blowing in the sparse California breeze. People had written prayers on these multi-coloured strips  and tied them to branches.

Sarah and I marvelled at the beauty of these strangers' prayers blowing and tangling together in the wilderness. We each wrote a prayer and tied it to the tree. We explored the various painted rocks and read them to each other.

One of the greatest joys God has given us in this world is shared experiences, opportunities to explore this wondrous world together. I am so grateful for friends who share my love of adventure and spontaneous experiences. And I'm grateful for how fun connects us.