Spiritual Autobiography - Part 2 - Relationships

I make friends slowly. My mother always said, “You can count your friends on one hand.” I think I have lived by that idiom. I have many acquaintances, but only a few true friends.

I have one friend as a neighbor, but the rest of my friends are people from my parish in the next town. We see each other a couple of times a week and that helps to build the relationship. They have been there for me and I for them in times of trouble in our lives. They encourage me and correct me and help me to be a better person.

I have both male and female friends and acquaintances. I have had many platonic relationships with women. In retrospect, I don’t see a lot of difference in my relationships between men and women. Our discussion and activities may vary based on our mutual interests, but the respect and affection for each of them is similar.

I am comfortable with my own sexuality. It is part of me, but the “eros” in me does not control my life. I see friendship as being prevalent in my relationships. My wife and I started off as acquaintances, moved to friendship, and then fell in love. Even when we had difficulties as husband and wife, we still had our friendship to fall back upon.