Reflections on a Sabbatical Journey 8

Friendships on the Sabbatical Road
By Gary Simmons

When I began my sabbatical I didn’t expect how much I'd be reconnecting with old friends. It started in Connecticut with Mickey, my friend from junior high. We hadn’t spoken in seven years after a painful fallout. I prayed, wrote down what I wanted to say, and made the call. At first, he didn’t want to talk about the past, but I gently pushed. Eventually we got open and apologized. The weight lifted and we could talk again.

Then I visited Jerry, my friend from college. We got open with some hard things we had hidden from each other for almost forty years and then had the best of times. I realized how much I had never said how much he had helped me, guided and inspired me so I wrote him a five-page letter of all the things I wanted to thank him for. 

In Houston I visited Matt, a friend from childhood. He’s facing serious trials with cancer, the recent loss of his mom, and his father’s declining health. Even in the middle of that, our time was valuable. We laughed, talked deeply, and shared honestly. He reminded me that sometimes just being there with your friend is what is important.

Lastly, I visited Doug, who also lives in Houston. We’ve always shared a deep and natural connection. He studied the Bible with me and later stood by my side as my best man. Though he’s also facing serious challenges right now, our time together was still filled with laughter, honesty, and a sense of ease. We didn’t try to solve anything. We were simply present for each other.

This sabbatical reminded me how important friendships are. They’re worth time, money, letters, long trips, and honest conversations. These men aren’t just part of my past but help anchor me in the present. They remind me of the kind of friend I still want to become.

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”
— Proverbs 17:17