Parker J. Palmer On Friendship
This quote from Parker J. Palmer's book "The Active Life: A Spirituality of Work, Creativity, and Caring
It's in a piece called "Fifteen Ways to Live a Spiritual Life Every Day"
Number 8 - Visiting a friend."Twice in my life I have experienced deep depression. Both times various friends trid to rescue me with well-intended encouragement and advice....In the midst of my depression I had a friend who took a different tack. Every afternoon at around four o' clock he came to me, sat me in a chair, removed my shoes, and massaged my feet. He hardly said a word, but he was there, he was with me. He was a lifeline for me, a link to the human community and thus to my own humanity. He had no need to "fix" me. He knew the meaning of compassion."
