Old Friends

Sunday morning, some old friends were at Holy Family and it was joy to see them across the Lord's table and to pray with them.

Fred, Shirley, Helen and Billy were here from Medway, MA and California. I know them from my time at St. Joseph Parish in Medway (1991-1994) where I was assigned before I came to Concord. While I see these friends occasionally, our lives and schedules don't make getting together as easy as it was "back in the day" when I lived around the corner on Barber Street. After Mass this morning we had brunch at Serafina and the conversation and laughter were as filling as the omelettes and home fries.

Also here this morning was the Lord-Remmert family from Illinois. I met Chris (Lord) and Steve (Remmert) when I was in campus ministry at Northeastern and Emerson College (1982-1991). Chris was an intern in campus ministry and I served as her supervisor. I've only seen them twice in the last 15 years! While living in the Boston area they welcomed their first born, Cassie and since then Chet (15) and Patrick (12) have been added to the family. They arrived Saturday afternoon and we had dinner at Vincenzo's that evening - a wonderful evening of catching up with Steve and Chris and for me to get to know the Lord-Remmert offspring.

With some friends there is the great blessing of being able to "pick up right where we left off" even when years have passed since last you were with them. When friendship is deep and love is strong, no distance in time or miles can break the bonds that have been forged. Getting together with these friends this weekend makes me wish that I still lived around the corner from them but that just isn't so, and while I hope that I will see them all again very soon I know that may not happen. Still, even should time and distance once again keep us apart, I rejoice in what we share so deeply.

Absence does, indeed, make the heart grow fonder...