I recently read A Circle of Quiet by Madeleine L'Engle (which I never formally reviewed, but discussed here and here) and enjoyed her seemingly random observations on life and culture and family and love and books. I had never heard of Friends for the Journey until I saw it on Katrina's Spring Reading Thing list. This book is also written in the same informal deep-chat-with-a-friend style. Parts of this book are actually deep chats with a friend, since it is co-authored by Luci Shaw, poet, speaker, and one of Madeleine's closest friends. Her name was familiar to me, but I did not recall any exposure to her, and I loved her words.
The themes covered are similar to A Circle of Quiet, but all within the framework of friendship:
- marriage (for what is marriage, but a life shared with a friend?) and widowhood
- keeping in touch
- Widening the Circle: The elements of friendship
- The Family Tree: The friends who didn't choose
- Feasts of Friendship: Love revealed
- Hello and the Good-bye: The rhythm of presence
- Snakes in the Garden: Jealousy, tyranny, and other risks
This book is like a mirror to those like me who recognize the beauty value of a friend and would be an inspiration to those who see friendship as more of a hidden treasure--worth finding, but perhaps buried for them. Do yourself a favor and read this book. Let yourself gaze into the mirror or grab a shovel so that you can dig deep and find the treasure that is awaiting you.