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Reviving Old Friendships

I had dinner with a friend that I had not seen in perhaps 3 or 4 years. I didn't know what to expect. In fact, I was slightly nervous that it would be too awkward. Luckily, my fears were completely unfounded. We had a wonderful time, and ended up not only having dinner, but shopping, walking her dog, and seeing a movie with a couple of her other friends. We had both changed a little since we last had a chance to really talk, but those changes couldn't erase the fact that we were still friends.

This got me thinking about a more extreme situation. Let's say that my friend and I hadn't seen each other for 20 years instead of 3. Rather than changing a little, let's say that we had become complete opposites. Perhaps I had become Rush Limbaugh's understudy while she was heading up the Kansas chapter of the ACLU. Could we still get together and hang out and just have fun? I think so.

I have seen this with some others since leaving for college. Another guy and I used to be very good friends, but things ended rather badly somewhere after junior high ended. Although we haven't communicated since then, we somehow started communicating on facebook. He invited me to come visit him when I have time.

Now, this is a different situation. I'm pretty sure the last time I had a prolonged conversation with him, he was saying something to the affect "I bet God has a special compartment in Hell reserved for Baptists (the denomination I was in at the time)." Ouch! Is it possible for such a relationship to "start over" and flourish?

I don't have an answer to the question; I am merely wondering aloud. A few days ago I read Gracia Burnham's In the Presence of My Enemies. Basically, I read the entire narrative in two days. It was cool, not only because the Burnham's were from Kansas, but because I had the privilege to see Gracia Burnham speak at a Dillon Lecture Series a few years ago. Her tale is inspiring and exciting. I think the book is overall much more "worth it" than The Heavenly Man.

In the Presence of My Enemies: B

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