Two of the ancients who are spoken about in the Hebrew Scriptures as being friends of God are Abraham and David.

Abram (usually known by his later name, Abraham) was the first patriarch. He is described as a friend of God in Isaiah 41:8. Since friendship is usually a term used to describe a high level of trust and intimacy; it is surprising to think that Abraham's relationship with God would be termed in this manner.

Abraham may have been a great leader, however, he was a liar and a deceiver. When he traveled to Egypt, he lied to the Pharoah about his relationship with his wife telling him that she was his sister. This deception was so deep rooted in the family tree that his son used the same ruse many years later when he entered Philistia many years later to escape a famine in his country. Yet, Abraham was considered a 'friend of God.'

And then there is that King David! An adulterer who committed murder to cover his adultery! There it is - he was called 'a man after God's own heart'. While the word, 'friend' is never used to describe David's relationship with God, David is looked upon as an example of a man who had an intimate relationship with the Divine.

So there is hope for us - weak, sinful, fallen, broken people. There is a possibility of imperfect people having an intimate relationship with Divine Perfection.

I was thinking today about being a friend of God.

There are ancient models of people who experienced their relationship with God to be like that of a friend to a friend. The best known is Moses whose relationship with God was described as 'a friend speaking to a friend.' (Exodus 33:11) The patriarch Abraham was known through Jewish spirituality to be a man was a friend of God. (James 2:23)

I find it interesting that this way of speaking about a relationship with God seems almost foreign to many people today. I suspect that our fear of intimacy may be contributing to this decline of thinking about a relationship with the Divine as a friendship.

I participate in a monthly group of therapists. Last month we were talking about clients and their couple relationships. As we talked we also talked about our own relationship as a group. One of the members observed, "We suck at relationships!" This lead to a lively discussion of our group process.

I think that there is a tie-in here. I think many of us 'suck' at our intimate relationships. Furthermore we 'suck' in our relationship with the Divine Lover.

I would be interested in your thoughts.

"Cyclone Death Toll Tops 22,000
At least 41,000 missing in Myanmar; officials reveal tidal wave destroyed town"

I just read this headline this morning. Whatever inconvenciences or troubles I will face today, the pale in comparison to these people's pain and struggle.

Had a hectic week? take a moment and take a listen



And for the love of my life...... have a great weekend, June

"But true contemplation is not produced by images or clear representations in the soul. It is the experience of an immediate spiritual union with God, a union which can only be effected by God and which is essentially a union of supernatural charity. Needless to say, no spirit other than God Himself can unit himself immediately to the soul, and no one but God can infuse supernatural charity into the soul. True contemplation is, then, the experience of a union that is so purely and perfectly supernatural that no created nature could possibility bring it about."

Thomas Merton, The Ascent to Truth, p. 79