By Phillip Grothus
A good friend once told me that we are the sum of our five closest friends. It’s an interesting thought, and as I contemplate who my five closest friends are, I find it hard to narrow it down to just five. Some of my closest relationships are with people I haven’t seen in years, but I know that when we meet up, it’s as if no time has passed. I also have local friends I see occasionally, through our kids’ activities, and I know if I call them, they’ll always answer. The more I think about it, the more I realize—it can’t just be five. I believe we are not merely the sum of our friends but the sum of what we do with them, and more importantly, the sum of seeing God in each of them.
As a teen, I didn’t just run with good kids—I literally ran with good kids on the cross-country and track teams. We supported each other, and they knew I’d be there for them, just as I knew they’d have my back. As I’ve grown, I’ve kept that same approach: a loving Catholic, rooted in my faith. Everyone around me knew what I stood for and respected that. I’ve always considered these friends to be good people, but I never looked much deeper than that.
That’s the mindset we need to change. Instead of saying, “That’s a great person,” we should recognize, “God was sitting right there!” If we shift our mindset to truly believe that God is always with us, everything changes. If you’re struggling to believe that, just remember who Jesus spent His time with—sinners, outcasts, and unbelievers. We’re all sinners, and He’s always with us.
So, when you’re hanging out with someone, you’re hanging out with Christ. I want to spend time with you. I want to spend time with Christ. So, in the words of A Tribe Called Quest: Can I Kick It?