Risking friendship

“Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.” (Proverbs 27:6) I’ve had the most bizarre couple of weeks. I’ve had some deep conversations with some friends. They haven’t been the most comfortable conversations I’ve had, but they have been life-giving. I don’t like conflict, and I’ve found few people who do. But I am discovering that some love me enough to eventually wade in and tackle the tough issues in an atmosphere of grace. As a friend of mine says, they are loving enough to be truthful. Basil Pennington wrote:

We are broken persons and live in broken communities in a state of brokenness. We are alienated from ourselves and from each other. We do not readily fit together. We are like a bunch of porcupines trying to huddle together for warmth, who are always driven apart out of fear of the wound we can inflict upon each other with our quills.

It’s easy to remain in this state of alienation. I’m grateful for friends who love me enough to risk authentic friendship with me despite the risk of getting poked with a quill. Thank God for these friends.