We believe that the profound need for human connection is enduring, even鈥攐r especially鈥攊n the midst of a shifting, fragmented culture. And 鈥渉uman connection鈥� is about so much more than romantic love (despite what we often see in store windows and movie theaters this time of year).
As we鈥檙e wrestling with the categories of connection and relationship this month, we think it鈥檚 essential to celebrate and explore the nature of friendship. That鈥檚 a big word, one that could refer to someone you鈥檝e only met online, or someone who鈥檚 walked with you through the most significant peaks and valleys of your life, or somewhere in between. Despite its potential vagueness, there is something essential in this category that helps us learn how to navigate both the beauty and the heartache of our world as people of relationship.
So we walked around our building yesterday, asking folks in our community about the nature of friendship and the art of cultivating life-giving connections with friends. Our thanks to the students, staff, and faculty who participated in this video: