Surround Yourself with Good Friends

"Always surround yourself with good friends." That was the advice given to the seminarians of Peoria during the final conference of the St. Joseph's Days Retreat this past summer. And Fr. Brownsey said it with more compassion than I've heard him say anything, and this signified to me the importance of it. This is important for many reasons.

First of all, we are in the midst of a battle. We are in a battle for souls, whether we are conscious of the fact or not. The Devil tries to hide himself, hoping we forget about the battle, hoping we forget about him. He tries to slowly ease his way into our lives, making us bitter about life, or making us focus too much on one aspect of life, or by making us alcoholics, or by any number of other ways. He is like a thin wedge that slowly pushes its way into our lives. We may not even notice it, but a good friend or group of friends will notice it, and they can help you get back on the narrow path. Trust your friends.

Second of all, the world is very divided in its loyalties. Many people are more loyal to money, or pleasure, or the local government, no matter how corrupt it may be. These people are often not very tolerant of those of us who are loyal to the one God above all. There is power in numbers, and there is comfort in large groups. Not that we should always live in comfort, but to know we are in it together, through thick and thin, gives one a needed sense of courage.

Third, (but certainly final) friends are there to help us grow in virtue. Proverbs says 'iron sharpens iron as man sharpens his fellow man'. JT and I adapted this last year when we were roommates to 'keep sharpening the sword'. And Fr. Dittmer always said, 'if you want to be holy, surround yourself with holy people'. What all of these are saying is that a good group of friends strengthens each other, they better each other.

To go at it alone is foolish. Surround yourself with good friends.

St. Therese of Lisieux, pray for us!