Companionship And Strength

Companionship and Strength

If I were alone in a desert and feeling afraid, I would want a child to be with me. For then my fear would disappear and I would be made strong.

This is what Life itself can do because it is so noble, so full  of pleasure and so powerful.

But if I could not take a child with me, I would like to have a living animal at my side to comfort me. 

Therefore, let those who bring about wonderful things in their big, dark books,  take an animal to help them. The life within the animal will give them strength in turn.

For equality gives strength, in all things and in all times.

Meister Eckhart Cited in Prayers for Healing

In this quote, I received the affirmation that makes me readily admit to the tendency for escapism that can be found in academia or the avoidance strategy that allows any of us to “hide yourself in a book.”

While cultivating our intellect is important and expanding our base for knowledge can be advantageous, what Eckhart is saying to me and all others reading his reflection is how crucially important companionship is for the strengthening of our souls.

Relationships, be they a connection to a spouse, friend, child or an animal works to deepen our compassion and takes the singular focus off ourselves and makes the exchange of thoughts, feelings, energy between us become the most important factor.

Companionship tenderizes our hearts in ways that teach or the assist us in experiencing how we can gain a relational resilience in dealing with the challenges of life, and being a companion to another living soul gives us a companionate courage that is shared and held by being together; by being connected, by being supportive and yes… by being responsible to that other living being for our conduct , our actions, and our covenant of life with them.