FRIENDS
The friendship between David and Jonathan in
the bible is one that is talked of with much caution even among the clergy. It
is the kind of friendship, which in any African culture would easily be frowned
upon with suspicions of whether the young giant slayer was really a straight bloke
or the quite worrying contrary; just kidding. It goes without saying that much
about friendship can be drawn from these two guys.
On more than one occasion the bible mentions
that Jonathan loved David as he did his own soul. This friendship was never
superficial. It went deeper than we can fathom. It was sacrificial and defiant
in its own bounds, to the extent that Jonathan’s allegiance was skewed towards
David more than towards his own father; King Saul.
Having grown up with a huge deal of reticence to
social attachments, I was aloof to the benefits, blessings and favours that
came with forming friendship. Any attempts by anyone to approach me were always
welcomed with cold stares, awkward silence or worse; repulsive body language
that spoke volumes of “go away stranger”. I adored loneliness. I dined well
with silence and embraced the emptiness of my own company. My appetite hit the furrows
while at parties and sky rocketed while at an empty dining table.
With the passing of time, I met a few acquaintances
whom I treated as partners of convenience; study buddies and lunch buddies:
nothing passed that. Little did I know that a moment drew nigh when the
foundations of my social inclinations would be shaken! I met Wallace, a boss of
mine at that time. A jovial chap, little in stature and absolutely humorous. We
shared more than just an array of job description. We had a common faith. The faith
in Christ sparked us. We shared more than just faith; we shared ideals, ideas,
beliefs, common mannerisms and even struggles.
I never thought my soul would be knit to
someone else to the point where I feared so much for him when he had a thing or
two bugging him up. When he reads this he
might earn himself a few bragging rights, but heck! Such moments would get
me on my knees to pray for Wallace; on several occasions. Our friendship
reminded me of David and Jonathan. It was sacrificial. Jonathan gave out love
into David’s life; expecting nothing. Their friendship was generational. It
surpassed the time of Jonathan even unto his crippled son Mephibosheth. David
was a righteous man enough to remember the son of his slain buddy.
And even now, I put my friendship on a scale. I
question the foundation of every new alliance I form. This one friendship I
have has taught me to be a giver and an honest lover. It has taught me to
forgive and to be mature all the same. It has taught me to have fun to the
fullest yet respecting the bounds of it all. I wouldn’t ask for more but that
would be selfish, wouldn’t it? A single connection is not enough, I need a
network of such buddies. My cup still overflows with love to give and with even
more grace to forgive. My soul is still excited for the new adventures yet to
be introduced to me by new cronies. Friends are the music of lifestyle, they
come in different flavours; crazy, funny, weird, mean, dangerous, adventurous,
sassy, provocative and even inspiring.
Today I met a new friend: Irene, she comes in
a new flavour; Intrepid!
For Mutheu J
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