Have you ever stopped to think about friends that you’ve made through the church? I’ve thought about this recently. My ward is very small and is made up of a very interesting group of people. As a result, I think I have found myself making friends with women that maybe in the everyday world I wouldn’t have been drawn to. I think that is a good thing.
You ward is like your family. You are together a lot, and you have these callings that you share with people that forces you to get to know them. I have found that with every ward I have lived in, I’ve made a friend or two that perhaps I wouldn’t have otherwise known.
I think the opposite can happen too. I can see how easily it could happen that we tend to stick with people in our ward and become friends with them instead of choosing others in our neighborhood, work, or wherever that might not be LDS. I think this can be a dangerous thing. There are many latter-day saints out there that have a hard time relating to those that are not LDS. Our church is not just a church. It is a culture. It is a way of life. So, sometimes, associating with others outside that culture can feel uncomfortable at first. But, I would venture to say that just like bearing your testimony, the more you do it, the easier it becomes!
I find that by stretching out of my comfort zone a little, I actually have learned a LOT about the world. And, by reaching out to those women in my ward that I might find a little different, or perhaps even peculiar, I have done the same. Making friends as an adult is not an easy thing no matter where you are trying to do it. But, stretch yourself a little and you might find a friend that will last a lifetime!
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