Ever since college ended for me, I have found that friendship is harder to come by. I no longer live in a cespool of like-minded, instant access, run-to-wal-mart-at-eleven-o-clock-at-night friends. If I have a hankering for good ice cream or stimulating conversation, I have to plan the outing days in advance and inevitably will drive halfway across the metroplex to find my rare and treasured friend.

And the mundane stuff of college that I so carelessly took for granted has all become this great production to execute. A late night talk at Starbucks is an event. Shopping for flip-flops at Target is an event. Even breakfast-for-dinner night has lost its magical spontaneity and, likewise, bears the dreaded event title. So, not being much of an event planner, I find myself forgoing the company altogether. Nothing really changes, I just do the little things by myself instead of with someone.

I get my grande raspberry lemonade iced tea to go.

I make my own decision on which pair of shoes to buy.

I cook a single serving of pancakes and scrambled eggs.

But, somehow, all of those meaningless and humdrum activities performed solo combine into a lonely lifestyle. I tried being upset about it. I tried to live in denial about it. I even got mad at God about it, shaking my fist at the sky at the injustice of it all.

Finally, I got some perspective. Friendship is a gift from God, as all good gifts are. No matter where I've lived or what I've done, God has always provided me with friends. And I'm not talking run-of-the-mill, fair-weather, we-should-do-lunch-sometime friends. I have been blessed with top-of-the-line, grade A, closer-than-a-brother friendships. I would even dare say that nobody has friends like I do!

With such a rich friendship history, who am I to wimper when I have a couple of lonely nights? Who am I to despair when God has always provided for my every social and emotional need? Who am I to begrudge the fact that things aren't as good as they used to be when I know full well that I never deserved the way things "used to be" in the first place?

So, my friends, I raise my glass to you tonight. To honor you. To thank you. To remember that your impact on my life so far outweighs even the loneliest of nights. Of course I wish that you could be here with me...but, the fact that you were ever with me at all is enough to keep me satisfied.

To Nathan...who taught me to never settle for less than I deserve.

To Emily...who taught me to encourage those around me.

To Kerri...who taught me to love me for who I am and not who I want to be.

To Mollie...who taught me to be "an honest heart you can rely on, anywhere you are, anywhere you've been"

To Christina...who taught me that an innocent lie about a middle name can land you a permanent nickname.

To Kimberly...who taught me to not be embarrassed when your friends moo in public.

To Elizabeth...who taught me that I am not ready in the morning until I spend time with God.

To Kathryn...who taught me to listen, to really listen.

To Leah...who taught me to appreciate the smell of paper.

To Krisztina...who taught me to show God's love every day.

To Matt...who taught me to feel things I'd never felt before.

To Roger...who taught me that God answers prayer.

To Jon...who taught me that when you love someone, you show them through your actions.

To Stacy...who taught me to put potatoes on people's cars just for fun.

To Kristen...who taught me to love the unlovely.

To Kristyna...who taught me to rekindle my passion for God.

To Lakepointe Town East Singles Group...who taught me what "You are the body of Christ" really means.

To Lesley-Anne...who taught me to value my family and my friends.

To Ashley...who taught me that God cares about the smallest details of our lives.

To Joanna...who taught me that good friends are for keeps!

To Renee...who taught me to love unconditionally, to always have faith, and to wear better clothes.

To those friends I've yet to know...I can't wait to meet you.

And, finally, to God...the only friend who has never and will never let me down.

"Naked I came into this world, and naked I will depart, the Lord has given and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord!" Job 1:21