"Hey- I think I know you!"

I ran into a friend in Walmart's parking lot last weekend (as in, our paths crossed; not as in, with a car or buggy). It was so nice to see her! It had been nine months or so since we saw each other last. You might think "How good of a friend could she be if you haven't seen her in nine months?" The truth is, we probably haven't spent more than a few hours together- ever- yet I call her my friend.

There are just some people we (we, in the general sense) click with. (The grammar police inside my head really wants to change that sentence to "with which we click", but that sounds weird.) There is something about their nature that draws us to them. There's a familiarity, a warmth, a sense of kinship. So it is with the friend I saw at Walmart.

Her daughter and my oldest daughter had a year of preschool together- over a year ago. We had a few nice conversations at preschool events, and my family attended her daughter's birthday party. (The girls were best friends in class.) Other than those few encounters, we haven't spent any time together. We're not even Facebook friends! Yet I call her my friend.

At first glance we are very different. She is a few years older than me. She was born in a different country. She is Catholic; I am Protestant. She is Latina; I'm white. Yet, I call her my friend.

So what is that can bring two people together in friendship when they hardly know each other? I believe in some cases, it is actually God in them to which we are drawn. The Holy Spirit in one person bears witness to the Holy Spirit in another person, and creates a unity between the two. To me, that is an amazing thing.

After seeing her, I guess I just started reflecting on the blessings of those "Barely-know-'em-but-still-feel-close-to-'em-in-a-not-creepy-kind-of-way" friends. I'm thankful that God puts those people in our paths. Do you have some of those people in your life? Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

Starting this train of thought also led me to, how thankful I am for the closer, more sustaining friendships in my life.

Most friendships are based on a shared history or mutual experiences. My friends from my school days are a connection to my youth. My "mommy" friends offer solidarity and advice for this current season of life. I have "work" friends that I enjoy being with in our eight-to-five cubicle world. And some friends are even family.

Whatever the connection, the most successful friendships are those that also have a spiritual basis. Paul encouraged the church at Philippi to "be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind." That combination makes for a pretty tight bond.

I am thankful for those friends with which I can swap recipes, arrange play dates for our kids, vent about work problems and husbands, and share our dreams and fears. But I'm grateful that some of those also happen to be the ones I can trust with a prayer request, those that encourage me in the faith, and those that point me toward Him when I loose focus. To those friends, "thank you". You know who you are.

And to my friend from Walmart parking lot, I hope to see you again soon!

Proverbs 27:9
Ointment and perfume delight the heart, And the sweetness of a man's friend gives delight by hearty counsel.