Friendship is...

Friendship is…
a reward from the past,
an enrichment of the present
and a legacy for the future.

We met in 1970. It was a time in our American history of incredible cultural unrest… racial conflicts, don’t trust anyone over 30, free love and the hippie movement, the Vietnam War and economic uncertainty. For the most part, we were sheltered church girls thrown together at random in the dorms at Azusa Pacific College It was in Clarinda Hall that the girls in the dorm turned into friends that have lasted a lifetime These precious friendships have been one of the sweetest of rewards from the past.

Our dorm rooms were decorated with the typical “Flower Power” bedspreads and posters. In our closets hung mini-skirts and hip hugger jeans. Our dresser drawers bulged with eyeliner and white lipstick, and the biggest concerns for us were what we were going to do on the weekends.

That is not to say that we didn’t attend very challenging classes taught by amazing professors, or that there weren’t any spiritually empowering chapel services. There definitely were. It is just that in addition to the pedagogy there were many additional, important life-learning lessons. The spontaneous parties in our rooms, some crazy road trips and the occasional “campusing experiences” taught us just as much out of class as in. Though some of us had to leave college before graduating because of financial difficulties or to get married, after college we found each other again. We began a weekly Bible Study together a chance to continue a “mini” dorm experience.

Through the 70's we hosted many wedding showers, weddings and then baby showers and more baby showers! New girls were invited to join the Bible Study and we studied scripture, read various books and attended seminars like Bill Gothard and Fascinating Womanhood. Through those years we went through many good times, as well as really bad times, praying and crying together, but always with the great hope of having a place to go to share our burdens and sharpen each other.

But as time went on and situations changed, many of the girls moved out of the area our last meeting was held in 1981.

After a decade of raising children in all parts of the country we called the girls together for a reunion. In 1992 the girls came together from all over the country and met in Palm Desert. It was a sweet reunion. In many ways it was like just another night in the dorm, except that now almost 20 years had gone by since we were in the dorm together. Some of us had children that were now on their own way to college!

After yet another decade or so of still raising children all over the country, we got together again at Azusa Pacific University for a Spiritual Formation weekend in 2002. It was great fun to tour the campus again and to see all the changes. Especially that Clarinda Hall, where we first met, was now a boy's dorm! Eeewww. We met up with some great old friends, some who are now on Azusa Pacific University's Board of Directors!

In September of this year, through some unexpected circumstances, we were able to get together for a spontaneous road trip. One the Azusa chicks has opened a store in downtown Durango, CO. called Cloudberries on Main Street. So we jumped in the car and drove 6 hours to see her store and stay the night. The next day we drove home and the whole way there and back we talked and laughed until our stomachs hurt.

What we realized is that through those Easter parties, bedtime get-togethers, Bible studies and road trips we have been blessed with one of the most enriching experiences even now in the present….Friends.

Friendships like ours are about building a legacy for the future. We are hopeful and look forward to growing old, to becoming little old ladies together. We’re going to stay up late looking at old pictures telling “remember when” stories, laughing until our sides ache. Even now we are beginning to see ourselves becoming a little bit eccentric, taking long walks (and drives), wearing silly hats and acting outrageous in public places. If anyone asks how long we have been friends we can say, “Oh forever... before you were ever born.” Friendship that’s as enduring as ours can only grow better through the years. It is a legacy for the future, not only while we are here on earth, but for an eternity. Who knows??? We might be just down the golden street from each other!

After a long drive home we ate dinner at a restaurant and Jeremiah 29:11 was engraved in the cement steps. We memorialized the verse by surrounding it with the knowledge that God has His plans for us. He has the plan to prosper us, not to harm us and to give us a hope and a future. Thank you Lord for this precious legacy.