Dear Listener,

One of the great gifts of this podcast is being able to hear and play witness to different parts of my life. Thus far we’ve heard from my time in college to the present era. Today we go further back than we’ve ever gone to around 2008, when I was a freshman in High School at Statesville High School. Molly Wright was the first older high schooler I met, and I needed a ride home from school. I like to think it was because I was a cool freshman that Molly obliged, but really it was most likely because my parents paid well. The rest, is well, history. The gifts of friendship span across time and space—some going back further than others, yet all have deep and abiding meaning if we let them. Let's listen in.

In hope,

Rev. Rob

Hey there dear listener,

Have you ever met someone that is way too cool to be your friend? I have, and not unlike Captain Ahab I didn't give up on chasing after my now dear friend. Perhaps that's what it takes some times. Megan Berry is a gift, and even when I was hesitant to be friends with her, the kindness she exuded overwhelmed and overpowered me. I am better off for it.

Let me introduce you to Megan. I trust you will find this meaningful.

Faithfully,

Rev. Rob

Dear Listener,

Today we hear from someone I consider to be one of my closest and best friends in the whole world: Molly Smith. That said it hasn't always been easy to foster friendship between us. Together we explore the complexity and complications friendships can have as we strive to be better friends to one another and to those around us. I hope you enjoy this as much I enjoyed recording it.

In hope,
Rob

Dear Listener,

I'm sharing this today in the hopes you'll love our intro cover as much as I do. If you really did enjoy it, please check out the band Mipso--they really are the best band of all time.

In hope,

Rob

Hello Dear Listener,

On today's premiere episode we meet Caroline. I first met Caroline when I was in college and served as a youth minister at her church. Years later we would become close friends and find common bonds over the progressive faith we both espoused. Today, Caroline serves as a reminder that you are a product of yourself, not of your surroundings. She is wise beyond her years and a gift to me as I'm sure she will be to you.

In hope,

Rob

The Rev. Robert W. Lee, MTS is a doctoral student at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. These podcasts are recorded in partial fulfillment of his doctoral portfolio. In this limited-run series, Rev. Lee explores his friends and what makes their friendship so necessary to his survival.

Check out Rev. Lee's other work and get in touch with him by visiting his website.