I left my house in the darkness and drove to this spot above Interstate 20 to await the coming of my lifelong friend, the sun.  Slowly his arrival was announced with a magnificent light show.  As he crept closer he seemed to increase the intensity and saturation of the colors that marched before him.  Black turned to purple; gradually pinks, yellows and fiery reds were added to the mix; until the glorious beams of the sun drove the darkness away.

        As I watched the traffic there seemed to be something familiar in its movement.  It reminded me of the rhythm of the ocean; the natural ebb and flow of the traffic resembled the give and take of the waves pushing their way ever onward.  I felt the strength of the powerful trucks as they hurled the wind out of their way and send it crashing into the concrete overpass on which I stood.  I listened to the great symphony as each mighty engine sang in the chorus line of progress.  And with each turn of their tires the skies grew brighter, friendlier and more welcoming.  It was as though the cars and trucks moving before me were helping to accelerate the arrival of another beautiful day.

        As I peer into the cars that pass below me I try to imagine their destinations.  Where are they going?  I am sure many of them are on their way to work, trying to make a living.  Some are pulling boats, some are towing recreational vehicles and others are a complete mystery to me.  I begin to wonder how many of them are simply traveling to see a friend.  Perhaps sickness has seized a friend and so they too have left their house in the darkness to be by the side of their old buddy.  Maybe they travel to reconnect and reunite with a childhood companion.  No matter what it is that brings friends together, it is always a better day when shared with someone we love.

        True friendship may be mankind’s most valuable commodity.  What else can make life seem so worthwhile?  What else can make our troubles seem less painful?  And if you want a true accounting of your net worth, you should begin by counting your friends.  Our greatest wealth is not measured in terms of riches but relationships.  Friendship is the cement that holds our world together.  So, today, go out and be a good friend.  Love the people in your world this day and don’t forget those from yesterday.  Somebody needs your friendship, your encouragement and your love.  Friendship is a choice and don’t forget the best vitamin for developing friends is B1.

Something to think about:

• To brighten a friend’s life is to increase the wattage of your own.

• Friends are our life preservers.

• A friend is someone who thinks you’re a good egg even though you’re slightly cracked.

• He who walks in when others walk out is a true friend.

• A friend is someone who knows all our faults but still loves us.

• Be friendly with the folks you know—if it weren’t for them, you would be a total stranger.

• To be without a friend is a serious form of poverty.

• Life benefits from serving others, for as it reaches out to help, it gathers something for itself—friendship.

Thankful for my friends
Rickey Moore