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“There are soul friends in this universe, those always present through good times and bad. They lift you up. They listen. Defend. Celebrate your victories. They are willing to go to battle for you – or because of you.”*
USA Today printed an article about an Irish-born Los Angeles Catholic auxiliary Bishop, David O’Connell, who was fatally shot in his home on February 18, and this was how he was described by those who knew him. He was called an anam cara, Gaelic for soul friend.
It reminded me of our Scripture reading yesterday about Jonathan and David: “The soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul” (Samuel 18:1). They were soul friends.
Anam cara was adopted by Christians in the 6th century when missionaries arrived in Ireland. When souls connect spiritually, they create a strong bond.
John O’Donohue, an Irish poet and author of Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom, says, “With the anam cara, you can share your innermost self, your mind, and your heart. This friendship was an act of recognition and belonging.”
As we think back to the characteristics of David and Jonathan’s friendship—he delighted in him, he defended him, he cared about him, and he loved him as himself.
We long to belong. An anam cara fulfills that need.
We read of another anam cara in the book of John:
John 15:13-17 ESV
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
We are soul friends of God. And He has called us to be soul friends to one another. We cannot do this Christian life alone. Jesus has commanded us to be in community and love each other as He loved us.
As soul friends in the body of Christ, we are accountable to one another to help one another grow and sharpen our faith (Proverbs 27:17), to spur one another on to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24), and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:39).
We belong to each other, and we belong to God. Who are your anam caras? Can’t think of one? Ask the Lord about who you might reach out to and become their soul friend.