The one I loved

Sometimes truth comes from an unlikely source.  Today, it’s from Karl Marx.  I disagree with his political philosophy, but he did say something that mirrors my feelings on friendships.  Where he refers to his son, insert friendship instead.

“Bacon said that really important people have so many relationships with nature and so many interesting possessions that any loss is quickly forgotten.  I do not belong to these people, the death of my son shattered my heart and brain, and I feel the loss as freshly as the first day.” – Karl Marx

While this may seem a bit melodramatic, it is.

Forgiveness

A little while ago, I got back in touch with someone I lived with on my mission.  He and I hadn’t talked since he left the morning he went home, and I got transferred to my next city.  I don’t know that it was on purpose that we hadn’t spoken in years, but if it were, I certainly would not have blamed him.

Each life that touches ours for good

I had been living in town for about 16 months. I was going to a family ward, where I was basically hiding out. Because I was disfellowshipped it didn’t matter what ward I was in, I couldn’t serve in any official capacity. The reason I say I was hiding out was that in the family ward, there were sufficient demographic differences that I could easily avoid any social interactions with others in the ward. I imagine that this lack of social life fueled the loneliness that made me seek out companionship with the gay man I was with for several months.