A Circle of Friends: Encountering the Caring Voices in Your Life

In A Circle of Friends, two eminent guides reflect upon the spiritual nature of this essential human relationship. They point out that acceptance by another fulfills our heart's longing and adds immeasurably to our self-esteem. Friends — especially long-term ones — distinguish themselves by their patience and perseverance. The authors discuss four types of friends — prophets, cheerleaders, harassers, and spiritual guides. All of these caring voices in our lives enable us to become more human. Or as Wicks and Hamma put it, "Warm friends represent the incarnational love of God in our lives."