Feb. 10, 2010 — Friends and health

New York Times writer Tara Parker Pope wrote last year about the connection of friends and health. She writes that researchers are beginning to pay attention to the importance of friendship in overall health.

She cites a 10-year Australian study reporting that older people with a large circle of friends were 22 percent less likely to die during the study period as compared to those with fewer friends.

Well, count yourself blessed if you have close friends. According to one study, Americans are suffering a loss in the quality and quantity of close friendships, and that the average number of close friendships has dropped from 4 to 2. And that 1/4 of Americans have no close friends at all.

Well, the spiritual journey always brings deep friendships.

Just a thought. I'm Sid Batts from First Presbyterian Church in downtown Greensboro, fpcgreensboro.org.