Love Part Eight - Philia  “Pay Forward” Gift # 248

I greet The Indwelling Friendship.

Today’s “Pay Forward” gift is – Love Part Eight – Philia; a few of its characteristics are - it may be the most spiritual and the most evil.  A group of friends is at some level a resistance movement.  The approval of our friends is what matters, not what outsiders think or believe.  So a great deal of good and bad stuff may come out of a strong group of friends.  Philia is the most misunderstood and neglected love.  It’s the least biological of the loves.  It is the least jealous, selfish, or threatening and the least, natural or necessary.  Friends walk side-by-side, little talk about their relationship, or about themselves but more about what they have in common; it can change by grace.  Unlike Eros, more than two are better, in fact, the bigger the group of friends one has, the more powerful and fulfilling.  Philia can be totally opposed to what we believe to be the Nature of God.  Friends may join together to do some of the most selfish, hideous, dreadful, unfair, appalling, cowardly things known to mankind in the name of their group, often caring nothing for the well-being of any outsider.  A group of friends makes those who are brave braver, a kind person kinder, and a cruel person crueler.  In other words, it underlines, endorses and sanctions its members.  Alcoholics Anonymous is an easy place to make friends, because we have so much in common, both the recovery and the dis-ease.  Thy Love, Thy Will be done.

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