To cement a new friendship, especially between foreigners or

"To cement a new friendship, especially between foreigners or persons of a different social world, a spark with which both were secretly charged must fly from person to person, and cut across the accidents of place and time." — Cornelia Otis Skinner

In the grand tapestry of human existence, where countless souls walk diverse paths across the vast expanse of life, true friendship is a rare and precious bond. Cornelia Otis Skinner speaks of an almost magical force—a spark—that can ignite the deepest connection between individuals, especially when they come from different worlds, whether those worlds be defined by nationality, culture, or social standing. This spark, an unseen but deeply felt energy, transcends the mere meeting of eyes or exchange of words; it is a meeting of souls, a profound recognition of shared humanity that cuts across the barriers of time, place, and circumstance.

In the annals of history, the greatest friendships often began in moments of unlikely encounter, when two strangers—sometimes from opposite sides of the earth—met and found something deep and true in one another. Consider the bond between Alexander the Great and Hephaestion, his companion and friend. Their friendship, forged in the fires of battle and in the pursuit of glory, went beyond mere camaraderie. It was a connection of souls, a recognition of something unspoken but deeply felt. Their shared journey was marked not just by shared ambition, but by a spark that transcended the material world, making them inseparable even in the face of vast differences in their birth and status.

Similarly, the friendship between Mahatma Gandhi and C.F. Andrews, a British Christian missionary, is a perfect example of what Skinner speaks of. Their paths should not have crossed, given their different social worlds—Gandhi, an Indian revolutionary seeking independence from British rule, and Andrews, a British man deeply embedded in the colonial system. Yet, when they met, there was that spark—a connection beyond politics, beyond race, a mutual recognition of shared values. Andrews came to support Gandhi’s cause with deep conviction, and they became friends bound by a higher ideal. Their friendship did not ignore their differences; rather, it transcended them, proving that true connections are born not of likeness, but of the recognition of shared purpose.

This spark that Skinner describes is not the flash of fleeting affection or temporary attraction. It is a deep, almost spiritual connection that seems to transcend the natural flow of events. When two people from distant, different worlds are drawn together, it is as though fate itself has intervened. The accidents of place and time, the circumstances of their lives, the barriers of society, and even the prejudices they might hold, all fade in the presence of this spark. It is the force that turns a meeting into a friendship, an acquaintance into a bond, an individual into a kindred spirit.

Let us turn to the bond between Thomas Jefferson and Lafayette, the young French general who fought alongside the American colonists in their revolution. Despite coming from opposing nations—Jefferson, a founding father of the United States, and Lafayette, a nobleman from France—their friendship was cemented not by politics, but by shared ideals of liberty, freedom, and a common vision for a better world. Their friendship crossed not only the boundaries of culture but of time and place, as they came to trust and admire one another across the Atlantic. The spark that ignited their connection was the shared passion for justice and the cause of liberty, which made their differences insignificant in comparison to the common ideals they cherished.

The lesson Skinner imparts is that true friendship is not bound by the ordinary circumstances of life. It is forged in the fire of common purpose, the recognition of something deep and transcendent in another person, beyond race, social class, or country. This spark is the divine force that connects us across time and space, that binds the hearts of those who seem to be the most different. Friendship, in this sense, is an act of recognition—a divine acknowledgement that we are all connected in ways that go beyond the visible world.

In our own lives, we are called to seek this spark. We must not let the divisions of the world—be they cultural, political, or social—define our ability to connect with others. The true friendship that Skinner describes is one that defies the world’s barriers. It requires us to be open to the possibility that our greatest allies, our deepest companions, may come from places or backgrounds we least expect. Friendship that crosses boundaries is not about erasing differences, but about celebrating the shared humanity that exists despite them.

As we walk our own path, let us seek that spark of connection in others. Let us see beyond the surface, beyond the circumstances that might divide us, and find the deeper bond that unites us all. It is this spark that makes friendship a force more powerful than any division, a force that binds us not only to those who are like us, but to all of humanity. **Let the friendships we form in our lives be those that cross boundaries and ignite sparks, creating bonds that endure beyond time and place, and that reflect the eternal truth of our shared journey.