Aelred

Aelred was a cistercian monk in the 12th Century in England. He wrote several works but one of the biggest challenges he leaves us with - and he was contradicted on his opinions by other scholars - is that of friendship. How do people do friendship?

His answer was the we should not have particular friends because all are created in the image of Christ and Christ's image rests in each. Therefore to say that we like one person more than another makes no sense. This may be an argument suited for the rigors of the monastic who is to shun all attachments - I am not sure it makes so much sense for the average person on the street.

However, it should challenge us in the asertation that because we are all created in the image of God then everyone is worthy - in some sense - of our time and friendship. Even the most unappealing of folk. There is some parity between all human beings - some bond of being "us". This sounds OK on first hearing but when we come down to practically offering love and friendship in an unrestricted way we will soon face some really big questions - do you know what he or she is like? Do you know what he or she did? But that person hates me........

To move beyond our own protection is hard - and perhaps something we will never achieve. Perhaps equal love for everyone is an ideal but I think most of us are aiming for something a little less lofty - and that is seeing Christ in everyone, even our enemy - seeing all people as children of God and offering, from ourselves, love and friendship which comes, in turn, from Christ.