Friends

As I prepare to leave an old world behind, I wonder about the friends I've made here... Will they still be friends, even though we are no longer in the same time zone and space?

I suppose one must trust on the strength of friendships fostered over the years. But only time will reveal the real "lastingness" of what we have invested over time.

It is sad but true that many friendships are really only acquaintances -- harboured only because of an activity, not because of true connection or real depth.

I suppose I will not mourn too deeply the loss of such acquaintances, but I pray that those friendships which are near and dear to me will continue to be cherished relationships that will last a lifetime, even if we are in different parts of the world.

That, to me, would be the greatest gift of all -- the gift of forever friends.