Last year I got to listen to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speak at an event hosted by my work.  I thought it an honor and privilege to hear him speak--especially since I didn’t pay and got to sit in the front.  While he was there to speak about “our environmental destiny”, he spoke about much more than that (he pretty much shared the message of the gospel).  He broached the concept that our culture does not reward those who do good.  People are rewarded (mostly speaking in financial terms) for oppressing others, for backstabbing and cheating their way to the top.  The culture of health care, insurance providers, gas, oil and energy companies, and the political market all encourage people to act according to what will profit them most.  We rarely see systems in place that financially honor those who save electricity, recycle, companies who dispose of waste properly and who pay their workers fair wages (except at new leaf on the Westside where they will donate money to my non-profit of choice every time i use my own bag).  Doctors get rich from seeing more patients--not for providing good care.  Companies grow and thrive by outsourcing their work to other countries and treating their workers poorly.  So you get what I'm saying? 

Here’s where I’m going with this.  Recently I’ve been thinking about friendships--and how we honor and reward others.  I was reminded of Robert Kennedy Jr.’s talk.  What ever happened to rewarding faithfulness?  For judging friends by their loyalty and faithfulness--not just who you’ve known the longest, see the most or have the most fun with?  What type of friends are we choosing to reward or not reward?

The “reward” may be intangible or it comes through the title of best friend, roommate, sister, maid of honor.  I have recently been taking a hard look at redefining what it means to be a good friend.  I’ve been hurt a few times by being neglected even though I have been a loyal friend.  Or honored for my cooking and humor as opposed to my consistency and generosity as a friend.  I have also forgotten many times to honor and reward those people who are wonderful friends to me--sometimes even choosing to hang out with others who might be more “fun”, yet don’t treat me well at all.  There are people that are SO faithful and loyal to me--friends that are invaluable yet sometimes, when asked “who are your friends--or who do you hang out with?”--those names don’t come up.

But rest assured, I know the difference.

Are you rewarding those people who are faithful and loyal in your life?  Are you appreciating those people and honoring them appropriately?  I would like to be that person that chooses quality over quantity, honesty over deceit, faithfulness over obligation.