Friday Musing - You’ve got a Friend

 We’ve been having conversations about how the shared experiences we had as Regians over 45 years ago have helped shaped the journey on this pilgrimage, both physical and spiritual and how, absent this group the experience would be different.

I’ve been touched by the response and openness of us pilgrims, but equally touched by those who have offered support and prayers for our journey.

In Carole King’s 1971 song “You’ve got a Friend”, the opening lyrics “When you’re down and troubled and you need some Love and Care. and nothing, nothing is going right. Close your eyes and think of me, and soon I will be there. To brighten up even your darkest night”, she evokes the friend who is there in times of need. But what we’ve experienced on this trip is friends who are there to help support each other on the broader journey. We talk about the sore muscles from the physical activity but also have had one on one and/or group conversations about what we are experiencing in our spiritual journeys. And not everyone is in the same place on either front and that’s OK, as long as we do the trip together.

We sing these 4 lines every morning before we start out:

“We are pilgrims on a journey

We’re companions on the road

We are here to help each other

Walk the mile and share the load”

And we do this, not just for us, but those that are not on this trip.

We learned today about the friendship that was eventually formed by St Francis Xavier and St Ignatius. 2 men who realized that could be better together bring their individual talents to create something better then each one could do separately. 2 of the original 7 companions were the driving force for the creation of the Jesuits and the mission to educate. Friendship is powerful.

So be a friend when you can. Who are the people in your life that could gain from your friendship? Who can help you? How can you make the world better for someone else?