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Welcome to the Rest, Roots, & Renewal podcast. This season we will explore the topic of midlife, and we are calling this season "The Middle of Everything: Conversations for the midlife soul".

This week, pastors Matt and Eric discuss the topic of friendship in midlife. We listen to Dr. Marisa Franco, psychologist and author of "Platonic: The Surprising New Science of Making and Keeping Friends As An Adult", as she talks about the ingredients of friendship, and how those of us in our midlife can rekindle old friendships, and even find new friends.

Why is friendship in midlife so hard? Should friendship be "organic" or should we approach it with intentionality? If friendship is so hard, do we really need it and should we care?

The Bible talks about friendship a LOT. We are told that "iron sharpens iron" (Proverbs 27:17) and that two are better than one (Ecclesiastes 4:9). Jesus called his disciples his friends, and had an especially close bond with Peter, James, and John. So friendship isn't just emotional, relational, and physical. It's also spiritual, and we are formed in and by and through friendship.

Songs/Media:

Instrumental Intro, "Swaying Silhouettes" by Nathan Moore

Closing Song, "You've Got A Friend" by James Taylor

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