Do you have a friend, a really good friend? Have you
ever thought about what holds the two of you together? Sometimes there is no
ready answer to this question? Why this person and not another? Personally I
have never really tried to dissect any of these relationships, but I appreciate
them as rare gifts.
Recently I’ve begun to see these gifts as part of a much bigger
treasure. Each relationship is somehow a part of the mystery of God and a
glimpse into the living reality of God’s incarnation into our world.
The other day Fr. Bill Cleves gave a presentation here at St.Walburg
on Pope Francis’ Exsultate et Gaudete;
the letter is about our call to holiness. Fr. Cleves' talk was rich with insight into Francis’ reflections. One of the threads I found weaving through his remarks was the
theme of God as community and how, as
a people of faith, we are part of this divine relationship. He points out that
for Francis, the call to holiness is a journey with others, not alone. This is where I see the God-connection with
friendship.
A major element in friendship is in the self--giving that
occurs in moments or over years. As each person gives part of self, bonds get
stronger. These are Godly acts! We find in the Hebrew bible and other sacred
texts across many cultures that creation is God’s
self-giving, God’s outpouring. God as
Father, Son, and Spirit, is a Trinity of Self-giving, which is another way of
saying God is Love and the Source of all bonding within creation. God is
Community. The Dalai Lama has said, “…our need for love lies at the very
foundation of our existence,” and Fr. Cleves reflected the other day: “We are
most divine when we are in communion.” These things are true because God is
communion.
One doesn’t have to be a theologian, however, to recognize
the reality and significance of the bonds between human beings.
- “If we were good at everything we would have no need for each other.” Simon Sinek, British-American author and organizational consultant.
- “Life
doesn’t make any sense without interdependence…” Erik Erikson, German-American psychologist and psychoanalyst.
- “When
we seek for connection we restore the world to wholeness.” Margaret J. Wheatley, American writer and management
consultant
Then too, a casual stroll through almost any drug, grocery,
or discount store will reveal hundreds of greeting cards for almost any
occasion. Each card is a reminder of how often people want to connect with
another person. A friend lets us know that we matter!
Looking at all this in another way, God gives us other people to remind
us that the Divine Presence is always near. During his presentation Fr. Cleves suggested
another name for God: “I’m Right Here!”
When we open our eyes and our heart to
appreciate a friendly gesture or a jaw-dropping event, that's God saying to us,
"I'm Right Here." If we reach out to someone with a consoling or
forgiving word, that's God saying to the hurting person, "I'm Right
Here." There is the mystery; there
is a re-enactment of the Incarnation. The mystery of God and the mystery of
humanity are once again visibly intertwined, God reaching into human life to
make us more divine. Through friendship we are truly immersed in mystery.Sr. Colleen Winston, OSB
