The New Nation - Internet Edition

When you're young, the future appears to hold great potential. You can do anything. Firefighter, doctor, lawyer, peace arbitrator to the world, a famous singer, musician, artist - everything is possible. And when you win that first place prize in grade school, your family cheers your name from the sidelines, or your picture gets a special place on the fridge, you think you've almost arrived.

But, over time, somehow the feeling that you can accomplish something, or anything, great fades away. Dreams of a wonderful future die too quickly, fading into shadows, passing just beyond your reach. Till finally, those dreams of great accomplishments become only faint memories of childhood idealism.

What is it that happens that makes our dreams and the belief that we can change the world fade away over time? How do we arrive at the day when we find ourselves wondering where all the time went? We question if we'll ever have that true friend, the perfect family, a job we love, financial security. Will it always be just out of reach?

There is one thing about the future that always seems constant: change and uncertainty. With the present economic turmoil, it becomes all the easier to give up hope, dreams and succumb to a feeling of helplessness.

In a world where we seem to have so little control over the future, how do we decide what is most worthy of our time and energy investment? How do we decide what will matter most in the end? Will it be career achievements? Fame? Wealth? Surely we all desire a life of comfort at the end of our days. What will give us the most fulfillment when career, reputation, and other desires all pass away?

As many of our seniors will confirm, that one of the most important elements when all is said and done will be the choice relationships we have built. Not simply the friendships made of convenience and mutual benefit, but the ones bonded by a deep love, deep valley experiences shared together, or the ones that came to our rescue in our deepest hour of need. They will be the ones that endure for eternity. In the end, such friendships will last the longest, remain the strongest, and bring the greatest life-long satisfaction.

Somehow, in the midst of a changing and uncertain world, deep, healthy relationships can provide a strong anchor and the stability and true meaning of our life. Sadly, few invest in this kind of friendship. Do you have such a friend?

Maybe this season we should invest in a friendship by an act that will be valued and appreciated - a simple card with a special message, time spent together doing more listening than speaking, a warm hug that lasts a few extra seconds, a gift that shows you really know your friend, or a kind favour that only a true friend would know to do. Herein we may find the only true hope and satisfaction of a fulfilling life.