The first post in the series ‘Friends’, reflecting on the nature of our friendships.

I am sure that I am not the only one who at times has tried very hard to push away those who care about me most. Usually through frustration about my own short-comings, I have tried to push others away, often successfully, but not always. There have been some remarkable people who were not willing to let me go, not willing to give up on me, no matter how hard I tried. And I have realised, these people are my friends.

It brings to mind the famous story of Jacob wrestling with the angel (Genesis 32.22-30). In the story it seems Jacob who is not willing to let go of the figure who is wrestling with him: “I will not let you go, unless you bless me”, we hear him saying. I wonder, however, who is really holding whom? I suspect Sir Jacob Epstein’s rendition of the story is truthful in the sense that it is ultimately the angel embracing Jacob, who seems rather helpless in this statue. Continue reading “Jacob: Never let me go” →

In a series of blog posts over the next few weeks, I will be exploring the nature of friendship, seeking to be drawn deeper into  the friendship offered to us by God through Christ. Through examples from experience and Scripture, we will hopefully discover how we can better recognise the gift of friendship in those whom we meet and in the relationships that make up our common life. The series will start with the story of Jacob wresting with an angel, reminding us that true friends will never let us go.