Friendship, God’s especially, is a gift. You receive it reverently and gratefully, and you hope you measure up to this person’s trust in opening up to you and in having the courage to reach across the chasm of uncertainty to you, believing that, yes, you will say, I like you, too. Of course, Jesus must have known he would say yes, but Francis still thought it all so wonderful! Even into this poor, proud little town of Assisi God’s love reached down and filtered through the narrow streets until it surprised you coming around a corner unawares, lost in your own selfish thoughts.
—from the book Francis: The Journey and the Dream
by Murray Bodo, OFM, page