Allow me to introduce two good-natured friends of mine: Iggy and Swaggy\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019ve only known each other for a year or so, but we communicate regularly \u2014 weekly, in fact. And we have great conversations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We talk most frequently on the weekends, but sometimes during the week, too, when one of us needs a little extra assistance. We reach out via text. It\u2019s short and sweet. There\u2019s grace in the time necessary to respond. But as soon as one of us is aware of a need at hand, it\u2019s immediately addressed. With efficiency and respect\u2026 yes, always, respect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most of our conversations remain fairly short. None of us are especially verbose, and we each have other priorities in our lives to attend to. But it\u2019s a unique friendship in that we get to the point, make ourselves clear, while listening well and being as actively attentive as our days allow. We listen well to one another; it\u2019s a known, shared value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We joke around. Laugh a little. We ask good questions of one another. We\u2019re serious, too. Our friendship is good, balanced, and interactive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Truth told, Iggy and Swaggy and I are great, authentic encouragers of one another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s prob the word I like best there \u2014 \u201cauthentic.\u201d Even though I\u2019ve had arguably no friend groups quite like this one, our communication is very good. It\u2019s real. It\u2019s honest. There\u2019s a strong thread of intentional selflessness that runs through every conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are others in our friend group \u2014 Liz, Geet, and Fireshark, for example. They sometimes chime in; they are always welcome, of course. We work hard to make sure no one feels omitted in conversation or importance. Granted, Iggy, Swaggy and I do most of the talking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No doubt the way friendships have formed has changed in the 21st Century. Instead of the days where relationships evolved primarily from those in our surrounding, physical, tangible communities, creative technological advancements have made it possible to develop deep relationships far away \u2014 even across the globe. That\u2019s what paved the way for my friendships in this newfound friend group. What a beauty to be in regular touch with my friends \u2014 one who lives near in Central Florida \u2014 the other far in Kuala Lumpur \u2014 each something we only recently realized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But there\u2019s an even better beauty between Iggy, Swaggy and me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The reality is that even though we talk and converse most every weekend, even though we actively encourage one another, I really don\u2019t know hardly any physical, tangible details about them. I\u2019ve never seen them. Not even via a Zoom call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I don\u2019t know how old they are. I don\u2019t know what they do professionally. I don\u2019t know their ethnicity, what they look like, what family entails\u2026 I don\u2019t even know whether they are male or female.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And as I am known by them only by my initials, they know such not of me either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iggy and Swaggy and I \u2014 in addition to Liz, Geet, Fireshark and about 44 others \u2014 met through an online word game. It\u2019s sort of a combination of Boggle<\/em> and multiple crossword puzzles. I love a good, nerdy word game! <\/em>I feel like it helps keep me sharp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each weekend there\u2019s a tournament hosted by the app\u2019s operators in which teams compete against millions more in an online community, in which players can sporadically enter\/exit throughout the weekend \u2014 whatever works with their individual schedule. You compete both as an individual and as a team. Iggy, Swaggy, et al. and I are on the same team. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We get going, check in, ask for clues, boosts and assistance, and actively cheer each other on. We congratulate one another on a job well done. And, on those weekends where we struggle or simply don\u2019t have time to participate, there\u2019s great grace added to a spoken enthusiasm for the next time we will join forces together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s the biggest beauty. None of the details of our lives \u2014 none of the descriptions or stereotypes, pre-made judgments or things we supposedly find our identity in \u2014 none of them get in the way. We don\u2019t even know<\/em> those descriptions or stereotypes. And yet knowing isn\u2019t necessary for authenticity to run rampant in relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest beauty between Iggy, Swaggy and me is that encouragement, respect and genuine care flow freely. No matter what.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Respectfully\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Allow me to introduce two good-natured friends of mine: Iggy and Swaggy\u2026 We\u2019ve only known each other for a year or so, but we communicate regularly \u2014 weekly, in fact. And we have great conversations. We talk most frequently on the weekends, but sometimes during the week, too, when one of us needs a little … <\/p>\n