«A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need»(Proverbs 17:17)
Natalia and I knew how to read before starting school. Letters have fascinated us before we met, and we have been friends for almost thirty years. She was my first friend when I arrived in Buenos Aires. We share afternoons of snacks, readings, movies, biking, and shenanigans on the patio.
This book is largely dedicated to her. It was not only the friend, but the talented, enthusiastic and motivating colleague who accompanied me throughout the long process to get the ideas on my computer into your hands today.
We shouldn’t underestimate the influence of good friends in our life. We cannot do it because we are simply not fully aware of how much influence they have. That is why it is so important to choose them well.
Natalia picked me up when I was falling, forgave me when I wasn’t performing, waited for me when I was falling behind, and encouraged me when I was getting discouraged. It made me think a lot about God and confirmed that they are friends, because those things are learned from him.
Natalia is the friend I talk to the most about heaven. And we have so much desire to be there … We have postponed conversations for Saturdays by the sea of glass. We have planned trips that will exceed our imagination. We have shared questions we want to ask Jesus and characters we want to meet.
Surely, if you ever went to an amusement park, you had to stand in line to go to the rides. Surely, if you ever traveled to another country, you had to queue to clear customs.
As Christians, we often spend so much time arguing about the «toll» to heaven, the requirements on that «border,» the fears of «documentation,» that we lose the joy of imagining what will happen once we arrive at our destination. Nobody talks about the queue or customs when recounting the incredible final experience!
Of course there are things that will happen that we cannot take lightly, but let us not lose the assurance of salvation, the beauty of heaven and the joy of meeting Jesus there.
Let’s make that our constant thought; let’s have at least one friend with whom we can spend time on these issues, and our lives will revolve more around that long-awaited event.
