Friendship Is Next to Godliness
Google Image I recently had a three-day visit from my long-time best friend, Gerald Waris. A retired priest from Kansas City, Gerald and I have been friends since he and his family moved into our neighborhood when he was somewhere between 3 and 5 years old. We both recently turned 80, so that gives you some idea about how long the relationship has lasted. We went to elementary school, high school, and eight years of seminary together. After 6 years as a priest in Kansas City and Bolivia, I received a dispensation from my priestly promises and married. Gerald served in parishes in Kansas City and St. Joseph, Mo. – our hometown – until he retired around the age of 65. Those facts and figures can’t begin to capture the significance of our friendship. Our families have been like second homes. He has been a rock of support, and I hope I’ve reciprocated. He’s always been there for me; and I’ve tried to do the same. Although we frequently talk and communicate electronically, we see each...