So, explain to me how food tastes so much better when it is shared with friends. I can eat a meal by myself and it will taste ok, but add a few friends into the mix and presto…instant taste improvement. Of course Christians call it fellowship but it is simply just enjoying the company of others over food. I was so blessed tonight to enjoy some of that fellowship with two people that I admire and respect very much. Since the time I met this couple, they have been very dear to me. In fact, whenever I’ve dealt with rough times in my life, they were there. Funny…the way I said that, don’t think that they were the cause of the rough times. Quite the contrary. They are sources of strength in difficult times.

There is healing that takes places when we are with friends. I know that many times just being with friends has made a difference in my life. Even if the problems are never discussed, just being together makes everything seem ok. There are three things that I’ve found that make times together so effective.

1. SAFETY…first of all, there should be a trust when you are together with friends so that anything can be said and there will not be any question as to someone gossiping to someone else outside of the trust circle. There should also be a trust in knowing that you will not be judged. That’s not saying you will always agree but that there will be no criticisms for what you say.

2. ANSWERS…friends should be your best source for answers. Not that they will always have the answers but most likely know which direction to point you. If you don’t trust your friends then you probably aren’t good friends. And even if they don’t have the answers, just knowing they will pray for you is vital. I am so thankful for my friends who pray for me. Many times I will get a message from a friend saying they are praying for me about something and before I got the message, God has already answered. That’s friendship!

3. ASSURANCE…it is so reassuring to know that no matter what, your friends are you friends. Those times together reinforce friendships. Probably the hardest thing for me is to feel disconnected with someone. If I feel out of touch, then I question my friendship with them. I’m a connector. I know people from everywhere. One of our office staff got so excited the other day because she knew someone that I didn’t. I used to joke with my dad because he knew everyone. Now, I’m the same way. I like people. Even tho I may not always be in contact with my closest friends, just knowing they are available for me and me for them reaffirms my assurance.

The early church had a term for this…koinonia. It basically means fellowship, communion, and intimacy. They went around meeting with each other and having an intimacy with one another that resulted in a fellowship of trust. The night before Jesus was betrayed, He had that fellowship with the 12. He knew Judas would betray him. He knew Peter would deny Him. He knew they would run. But He loved them and He trusted that what He had entrust to them would produce greater results (greater things than these shall you do because I go to my Father). Let’s make it a habit in our lives to live in koinonia.