I is for the Inklings.
Ralph Wood, in his first talk at Laity Lodge, spoke about the Inklings, that group of men who met in an English pub to discuss life and literature, and whose best-known members were C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien.
I scribbled in my notes, “Friendship is the only love that when divided is not diminished,” and looked for the “real” quote later. I found it, in C. S. Lewis’ book, The Four Loves,
“In each of my friends there is something that only some other friend can fully bring out. By myself I am not large enough to call the whole man into activity; I want other lights than my own to show all his facets… Hence true Friendship is the least jealous of loves. Two friends delight to be joined by a third, and three by a fourth, if only the newcomer is qualified to become a real friend. They can then say, as the blessed souls say in Dante, ‘Here comes one who will augment our loves.’ For in this love ‘to divide is not to take away.”
Several years ago, when my life journey had taken a steep uphill turn, I summoned a group of Friendlings. We didn’t meet in a pub, but rather, through the magic of the interwebs, through social media and email.
Dr. Wood told us that The Lord of the Rings would not have happened without the constant encouragement of C. S. Lewis. Sometimes I wonder how I would have fared without the constant encouragement of my Friendlings.
Like the Inklings, mine has been a group with some fluidity, but also with some mainstays. With them, I have not only shared the trials in my life, but also my joys and the mundane. They share the same with me.
Each of them brings a different perspective, but that only enriches me all the more.
They staunchly stand beside me when I am at my weakest.
They know me at my ugliest and still love me.
In turn, they have shared their sunshine and their dark times with me.
“I’m hurting today,” one might say, and I will stop what I am doing to pray and to reach out across hundred of miles to tell her that I love her.
Friendlings have been a safe place to share and to listen.
Dr. Wood said that we are all Inklings.
Some of us may not be literary types, with ink stains on our fingers, but I daresay we all have the capacity to love and be loved.
Everyone can wear some friend-stains on their heart.
Hot Dogs and Marmalade 
Oh, my goodness. Beautiful. So so blessed to have you in my life.
Thanks, Sally. A gift in a busy day. Sherrie
Sally that was such a lovely post! I am so glad A to Z connected us. Thanks for visiting, I’m glad I visited back! Friendling – inkling — I love both ideas (and words).
There is an essay by Stephen Ambrose in the Ken Burns book on the Lewis and Clark expedition in which he writes about friendship, and their friendship in particular. When it is at its best, he says, it’s the best relationship one can have. Totally free of jealousy. You relish each other’s successes, and worry when the other person is down.
Sally, what a lovely post! What I find so amazing is the friendships I have developed since starting my blog a year ago (including yours!). I never thought that it would be possible to create close bonds with people I’ve never met and yet now, a year later, there are so many whom I consider as friends. I am writing down the quote…you might see me use it some day in my blog! xx
Hello there.
Proverbs 17:17 – “A true friend shows love at all times, And is a brother who is born for times of distress.”
Proverbs 18:24 – “There are companions ready to crush one another, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
And the best friendship of all is to have a friendship like Abraham had…with God – James 2:23
Thanks for sharing.
Friendlings. I love it. So thankful to have a chair at the same table as you.