My new Best Friend...

You know there is nothing more comforting than the gift of friendship. All too often I think we foolishly throw this gift away casting it out before mere acquaintances or those whose heart does not really meet the depths of your own.
I am on this journey of solitude upon which I have not really been looking to make new friends and yet I seem to have found the most profound friendship I've ever known.
Have you ever been seated on a park bench when a friend comes to sit beside you without a word? Have you ever experienced that comforable silence? The idea that the mere presence of another can so much farther surpass the need for actual spoken communication. Even to the point that the presence can fill you with peace and healing you never kew you needed or craved?
That my friends is the power I found in the gift of friendship with Holy Spirit, the man!
Sometimes we claim to need peace and silence a sense of rest but rarely do we actually become active in the persuit of solitude and silence. Among the many disciplines of this spiritual life we find so much accomplishmentin the doing checklist...bible reading...check...prayer...check...fasting...check
But in all the doing to meet the Prince of peace, have we found peace. In all the "being called friends of God" have we come to the secret solitudeby which we cultivate friendship? I have been deeply gripped by the sweetness of the presence of Holy Spirit found in my intentional surrender of my hearts cries, my surrender of my mouths requests and I am coming to a place where I resolve that even if I find no answers or no "a ha" revelation, this friendship of silence is like hidden treasure to be searched out. When you sit on that bench and wait...oubegin to feel an arm that slips itself into yours and in stillness there is intimacy beyond words and transcending all doable activities. This is the gift of friendship I am coming to know and man, it is more precious than silver or gold. And oh, in that place should He decide to speak...I am learning to listen...and wait not in a hurry to run to the next thing or tell others the great news just simply...wait what if the God of the universe just wanted to meet you there because He knew you were tenderhearted and faithful to listen to the concerns on His heart not to move you to act but just to listen as a friend He wants to share with...will you be found at the bench present to slip your arm in His? It's a place of beholding the beauty of a man whose light shines in the quiet solitude where time does not exist and there is no hindrance to love. Incredible!