[blockquote source=”Robert Louis Stevenson”]“We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend.”[/blockquote]

I had words with a friend the other day.

It was over a matter rather inconsequential, yet found its way through emotions at their peak.

And though, I knew they were spoken from a genuine place of love, still… they left such a swell of uncertainty in their wake.

Uncertainty can be a maddening beast. And, feelings have such a way of charging up our words.

I couldn’t believe that there could be such silliness between us. But, as is the case when uncertainty creeps my instinct was to cling.

And cling to, I did – to every juicy subtlety of every single word. Even the ones we don’t fully believe, can still have a bit of ‘staying power.’

Sometimes, we can become so lost in the dense ‘fog’ of our emotions – that we fail to see that distant light, beckoning us safely back to shore.

And, we forget that it’s only our truest friends who’ll often ask of us those things we’re too afraid to explore.

In that regard, perhaps they are the ones most willing to push us from our proverbial ‘cliffs’ – but, only when they’ve determined it be the very best thing for us.

They force us from the static of our self-imposed status quo.

They teach us that a great life, involves greater risk – but that, we are never too far from the security of their safety net.

They offer us hope, when all seems lost; and caring words, where others have none.

But, more important than anything else, they help us to find the fullness in this, our life’s journey.

Wasn’t it Buddha’s faithful attendant, Ananda, who once asked whether having noble friends wasn’t half of the holy life. To which the Buddha replied, “My dearest, Ananda – do not say such a thing, they are the whole of the holy life.”

I took a little editorial liberty with that translation, but, you get the picture – right? Whatever our life experience, it is a bold reflection of our most cherished friends. And, how gracious to have the gift of their light on a path that seems often overwhelming.

“They are the whole of the holy life.” 

Indeed, for even in the mess of these muddled up words, there is still cause to give rise to celebration.

As, it’s often their light that helps us find our way to it.