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Faith and Spiritual Growth

Relationships: Spiritual Friendship

Spiritual Friendship

by Marianne Diaz

One of the great joys in life is the experience of deep friendships. The sharing of time together, a wonderful meal and good conversation fills the body, mind, heart and soul. Experiences like these were the basis for our Eucharistic table! A good friendship should be cherished and nurtured. What makes friendships such an important part of a full life? First, the care, concern and attraction between friends show us both that we can love and that we are lovable. Also, the time and attention required by friendship is a spiritual discipline in its own right. Just as we spend some time each day in personal prayer, supporting our relationship with God, our human relationships need our presence in order to flourish. In addition, friendship teaches us to wish the best for our friends despite our own desires. Do we really want what is best for a friend if it means they might move far from us? Finally, a spiritual friendship allows us to be comfortable being ourselves. We can take off our masks, relax and be the person God created us to be in all aspects of our lives.