Old Friend, Here We Are...

This is my friend, Johan.  You can't really see his face since he claims to be camera-shy, yet in a room full of people he's anything but shy.  I met Johan 15 years ago.  When we were 15 and 17 yrs. old.  We were in high school and we became close friends.  We shared many wonderful memories and always had a great time.  About 3 years into our friendship, we grew up and headed in different directions.  For a while, we lost touch and never talked.  About every year or two, Johan would find me and we would have a quick phone conversation, catch each other up and then the distance between us would creep in again.  That's how it played out for the last 12 years.  I never made the phone calls, just figured he was busy and would call me when he had the chance.  I never forgot about our friendship, it was always something I held dear, but I knew that time and life seperated us and I know that most high school friendships really don't weather well through time, so I was content in knowing that a phone call would pop up sooner or later.  12 years later, our friendship has re-surfaced.  I cannot pin-point how it happened.  I will venture to say that it was one of the phone calls that served as the catalyst.  Why it was different this time, I truly don't know, but it was a nice surprise.  It has been fun getting to know my friend all over again.  We have both been through so much over the years and to be able to re-connect has been a blessing.  Our friendship feels as though there was never this huge canyon separating us, but rather as if we had been going strong all along.  We have a great time together talking, laughing, eating, watching dumb movies, and he still likes to pick on me, so that hasn't changed.  We definitely are not the same people we were at 15 and 17, but our friendship, although, right now is new again, is still familiar.  I can't believe 12 years flew by without being part of one another's lives.  It has been a blessing to welcome Johan back into my life.  I thank God for him and I am so glad that Johan is discovering how real and significant God can be.  I am resigned to the fact that some friendships are seasonal and some may falter, but even in the absence of one another our friendship has proven fruitful.