Connection and Companionship, Part 2

"This is why I would advise anyone who practices prayer, at least in the beginning, to cultivate connection and companionship with like-minded souls. This is very important, because we can help each other make progress on the path of prayer and bring each other greater benefits." Teresa of Avila, The Book of My Life (1562)

This is the nineteenth week of The Wisdom Project, and it’s a good time to reflect on what I’m doing and why. Teresa says connection and companionship are helpful to people as they are practicing prayer, and I was hoping that through my writing I would be able to build a community of wisdom seekers. A gift came to me in the mail last week, a visible sign that this hope is being fulfilled, and it gave me great happiness.

The gift came in the form of a package from my best friend, Charlotte Konrad, who lives in Winnipeg. Inside was a lovely, handmade card made by Charlotte with an encouraging message: “…I have been journeying with you, reading and leaning on your blog, and exploring this mystery of ‘wisdom’ a bit myself. Of course when you explore, you write. When I work through something I have to letter it. So here is a copy of one of my proceedings. I read through the wisdom literature including Sirach etc. which I have never done. Of course I read it out of my copy of the St. John’s Bible which was inspiring on many levels.”

After reading the card, I admired the artwork she sent me, a quotation from the Wisdom of Solomon:

Wisdom
hastens to make
herself known
by those who
desire her and she
graciously appears
to them in their
paths

“Deep calls to deep” it says in one of the psalms, and Charlotte’s calligraphy brings the psalms to mind. The Wisdom Project won’t be completed until March, and I have a long way to go before then. Charlotte’s gift with its lettered beauty and depth of meaning will help me in the many days to come.

Teresa’s words and Charlotte’s gift have caused me to reflect on the blessing of companionship. How fortunate I am to have like-minded friends to travel with me on the wisdom journey! May we find ourselves mutually enriched by our time together, and praise the Holy One for the love and inspiration we share.