It was a sunny, warm Northern California summer day. We stood by my car, as I prepared to leave to drive home. I’d be leaving for college in L.A. in the next two days, so this was our last visit together. He’d been my best guy-friend for years…and this summer we’d only grown closer. He was someone I praised God for constantly, for he had become closer than a brother to me. We hugged, promised to keep in touch, and made plans for me to come visit in a month for his birthday…

And that was the last I heard from him…for three years…

No reason…no explanation…just nothing from him. Hurt? Oh yeah. Devastated? Nearly. To lose your best-friend that quickly, with NO reason whatsoever is “kinda” painful.

I tried to visit, kept writing, to no avail. I gave up until last May, before I left for Pennsylvania, when the Lord urged me to write “one more letter”. I didn’t want to, but I did. When I arrived in PA, there was a letter on my bed from him…I sat on that bed holding the letter for so long…what did it say? Did I really want to read it? I finally did, and my heart began to heal. He apologized for all that he had done, and wanted to start our friendship again. I was amazed…cautious, but amazed.

We corresponded through November, and then I didn’t hear from him again. He had given me his new numbers, so I called when I was in the area because he also said that he wanted to get together to catch up in person. No answer. No response.

It’s been 7 months since I last heard from him.

And yesterday I found out that I will be spending 6 days with him this summer, at camp, as counselors…

Wow.

I freaked out a little yesterday, and my heart pounded as I tried to verify the news I had received. It’s true. My former best friend is going to be at camp with me for 6 days at the end of June.

What am I going to do when I see him? What is he like now? What will I say?

All I know is that God has made this happen–there is no way this is a coincidence. I cannot wait to see my former best-friend, to reconcile, to catch-up, and maybe to get some reasons for why he left my life so suddenly. We will have one evening before the campers arrive to talk, and I pray that the opportunity is given! I cannot believe that I will be able to see him…but my heart is filled with trepidation. Three years is a long time…I just have to trust the Lord fully with this one, and just continue to prepare myself for leading camp…that is my true purpose for being there–to lead and disciple the youth that come to this camp…

…but I am grateful that I will get to see him as well.