Flesh and Spirit

Writing is an interesting experience and process. Things that float in your head get pulled together in physical letters on a page, become stories, poems, and take on a physical identity of their own. In that way, the letters and words become real, so to speak. I have several friends with whom I correspond who are far away physically, in other countries, in other continents and who I haven't seen in many, many years. Yet, the old friendships we had are taking root again, even deeper on some levels, through the marvels of e-mail and Facebook connections. There is an empathy that is developing in these communications that surprises me. The enormous physical distance  is compensated for by the possibility of instant responses. Whereas a letter across country and continent can take one to two weeks or more, an Internet letter can have an almost instant response, like your friends are right there with you, having a cup of tea, or dinner. I find it wonderful, especially with friendships that are being rekindled. However, I have to admit that I am pleasantly surprised at the serendipity of accidental friendships that are delightful, when pure chance makes you realize you have a lot to share with a particular person, and it really feels like the pleasure of a new found friendship.I love art, grew up surrounded by it, and accidentally found someone who is a talented and very interesting artist, who lives in a town I used to live in, making for an already delightful whimsical anecdote. It is quite wonderful, even though it is all spiritual in a science fiction sort of way, as we have never met physically, in person. But the connection feels real and meaningful, as if spirit and flesh made peace through the physics of electronic engineering and communications, giving a whole new meaning to the idea of new horizons when it comes to friendship and its possibilities.