I had an experience as a younger lad with an older boy who was in High school a Senior, compared to my Elementary position at the time.. His Dad was rich and we went on a day hunt, a Saturday. I was 11ish then and his Dad was against us going hunting together even though I only took a BB gun with me while my friend had the real deal, and on that trip in the mountains we trekked in on foot leaving his truck on an inner region in the woods. Later after we were done we got back to the truck and it was stuck in the mud from all the rain that started, we tried everything but to no avail, God had us there and that was that!
We ended up hiking until we met up with a dirt road and some how, (ok, by God's grace), we had a car pass by and it was about 10:30 pm which was dark for hours prior. The people who picked us up were drunk and just out for a few non-Christian activities, but we had no room to bark any creeds at them - we were just so thankful to God we accepted their offer to drive us into town. But I found out later, his Dad was trying to see how to rent a helicopter to go find us...WOW! Really?? (But that is another storyline for another day LOL).
Anyway, my point is after that His son and I were very very close even though we were years apart in ages. His name was David. And it was even because of our age difference we both had new things God showed us and we learned from Him in that interchange of relational friendship seeking God.
At first he was reluctant to admit to his friends we were friends at all, but from that point on he didn't care what they thought for we were indeed close friends based on the struggle of circumstances shared.. When we experience God's commission together it is like that, we suffer for His name sake together as we love the world and even God's enemies there. Its like the comrade on a sports team, you have to overcome in the reality of the mix to gain victory and claim a voice for your team! You bond thru those moments of overcoming with a purpose. I am closer to some here because of those moments and experiences for sure...May God continue to bless us as we lay out our life sacrificially for His name sake and gain a stronger bond in Christ because of it! Amen..