June Spiritual Theme – Friendship
By Chalice Circle Facilitators

Our Monthly Spiritual Themes guide our Chalice Circles, which are small, intentional groups of members and friends that gather for spiritual enrichment through personal sharing. For more information on Chalice Circles, please email Linda Benson at chalicecircles@uuprinceton.org. Our Chalice Circle thoughts and questions around the theme of Friendship this month are:

“She is a friend of mind. She gather me, man. The pieces I am, she gather them and give them back to me in all the right order. It’s good, you know, when you got a woman who is a friend of your mind.” ⎯ Toni Morrison

Have you ever had someone who you could explain yourself to you?

“Oh, the comfort — the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person — having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are, chaff and grain together; certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then with the breath of kindness blow the rest away.” ⎯ Dinah Maria Craik

How important is it for you to be able to talk to someone without filters or framing or worrying about how it will be received?

“The real test of friendship is: can you literally do nothing with the other person? Can you enjoy those moments of life that are utterly simple?” ⎯ Eugene Kennedy 

What is the value of having someone with whom you can just be in the world?

“One’s friends are that part of the human race with which one can be human.” ⎯ George Santayana

How do you know when someone can accept you as a social animal just as you are?