I never thought I could have friends like these. Last night I sat around a table eating burgers with five great friends celebrating the birthday one in particular. Beautiful Helen Monkton embarked on another year yesterday, and marked the occasion with meat, chips and massive ice cream sundays! An excellent choice. As we laughed, joked, questioned and regaled each other with stories of yester year, I realised that I have known each of them for over a decade.
A decade… wow… time flies.
It doesn't seem like twelve and a half years since I moved down from the midlands to this gorgeous city. I have albums full of photos of hanging out with these same friends, just ten years younger (and with *cough* interesting haircuts). As i shared my reflection we began to get nostalgic about the many adventures and dreams we've shared together. The girls present (Charlotte, Ellie, Helen and I) realised our friendships really got going during the first season of 24-7 Prayer and mission on the island of Ibiza. The prayer room, the 24-7 movement and community we used to call Warehouse has shaped us all, brought us together, deepened our bond. We've shared many laughs, tears, lessons learned and lots in between. I even ended up marrying one of them (er... not Helen, Ellie or Lottie but one of the blokey sundea eaters below.)
This is what makes Chichester a difficult place to leave. I don't have any plans to right now, but when I think about the possibility it isn't just a beauty of the city, the coast or downs that make me reluctant; it's the people. We share life, not as a sentimental statement, but in daily truth. These are the people I'm stuck too. I hope we remain stuck together even if life takes us further apart.