"To be human, is to belong...Belonging is deep...This is the appropriate art of belonging in friendship: friends do not belong to each other, but rather with each other. This with reaches to the very depths of their twinned souls. True belonging is not ownership; it never grasps or holds on from fear or greed. We seem to have forgotten the true depth and spiritual nature of intimate belonging."
John O'Donohue, Anam Cara
This rich observation by O'Donohue is at the heart of all healthy, vibrant, robust friendship. It's true for male friendships, female friendships, and male-female friendships. We all long for this withness, I believe, because we were all created from Triune withness. This is the path to happiness, beauty, freedom, love, intimacy, commitment, connection, and friendship. We long for this connection that is free of ownership but yet with deep connection of belonging in friendship.
