Evangelizing through Friendship

Are you willing to ask yourself how many friends you have? But seriously how many REAL friends do you have? Many of us have a great discrepancy of our number of real friends to our number of Facebook friends or Instagram followers. It seems we may have fewer friends than ever before. There is a real friend crisis in this virtual world and reality.

Because of this realization, it is important to recognize that there are many others just like you who struggle with friendship. It is not an easy thing as it takes time, openness, and vulnerability. Everytime you invest in someone, they could walk away with even more of you, leaving you hurt and broken, but you could also grow much deeper. Friends are also equals and can call each other to greater things which can be challenging.

Jesus set an incredible example in His lifetime. He had the opportunity to speak to masses of people, perform miracles, and convert the world, but He chose to have 12 friends to hangout with Him. From those 12, He particularly spent time with 3: Peter, James, and John. Jesus modeled friendship for us by this. He built the Church on friendship and told them to go and do the same, so if we are going to make an impact on the world, an easy way to do this is through friendship. Much joy comes from good friendships, and I have been blessed to have experienced it myself.  

Now you might be wondering how do you get to have friends that will do that. First, start with prayer. Ask God to give you good, faithful friends. Second continue (or start) doing things that you enjoy and that you would want to find friends in whether that be sport, music, or whatever interests you. Third, start hanging out with people you feel drawn to, and be yourself. If you have a meal together and you typically pray beforehand, don’t be afraid to do that in front of them! If you are corky, punny, or just a little odd, let that come through. Allow yourself to enjoy the excitement of friendship and be at peace when it goes through “dry periods” or awkward moments. Those moments are needed. Finally, thank God for the friends He has put in Your life. Whether you recognize it or not God already is working in your life and is desiring you to have great and holy friendships.

A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure.
A faithful friend is beyond price, no sum can balance his worth. Sirach 6:14-15

My original and greatest friend, my sister.

My faithful friends at college.

My great friends who showed me the way in college.