Like you, I really enjoy learning new things. This morning, I learned the definition of the term “murmuration.” My vocabulary got expanded as I looked at a video of some starlings racing across the fields in the Midwest.

You may have seen how they group together by the thousands and then proceed to fly around in ever shifting highly synchronized patterns. The effect is a mesmerizing fluid artwork that fills the sky.

 The birds are changing their flight paths to confuse their predators. Falcons and hawks just can’t keep up with the mass of diving birds.

There isn’t a single leader in the group, but those thousands of birds get their communication from their seven nearest neighbors. Once a “localized decision” is made, those birds “dance” in the sky to a rhythm that only they understand.

Those thousands of birds organize themselves into small groups, communicate thoughtfully and then react appropriately. I got to thinking about those seven neighbors. Those starlings need them, and so do we.

We need seven special friends.

We need a CHEERLEADER, someone to celebrate the blessings of life with us. We need a COACH who will challenge us with new goals and aspirations. The Lord needs to place a MENTOR in our lives to help guide us along the “narrow way.” And we need SOMEONE TO MENTOR. Our gifts and abilities need to be passed along to the next spiritual generation.

We also need AN ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER. This is the truth teller in our lives. We trust them with our deepest secrets and lean on them for encouragement to keep going.

A COMITTED LISTENER is one of our most prized relationships. They know when to just sit with us, patiently waiting for our thoughts to tumble out. They don’t necessarily solve things; they let us arrange truth for ourselves.

And then, we desperately need A FRIEND. A friend is just THERE. On good days and lousy ones. They laugh with us, cry with us and point us to Jesus. They are the friend who loves at all times.

Murmuration is the amazing artwork that a bunch of birds create as they twist and turn in the sky. All the while, they are paying attention to their seven nearest buddies who point them in the right direction.

This is a great week for you and me to pay attention to our nearest buddies. Maybe we ought to give them a quick call and say thanks!