What are the requirements for a friendship to form between individuals?

This question has been on my mind lately as a new, unlikely friendship has been forming in my life.

Do you have to share a culture? A worldview? Do your beliefs have to agree? Or at least, you have some similar interests?

Ideally, sure. These things promote conversation material, which can certainly build your bond.

But I’m realizing that these things are not the main requirement for friendship. In fact, vast differences can exist and connections can still bridge the distance with ease.

Think about this… people are all created by the same God, with the same need in our hearts for love and acceptance.

Maybe focusing on meeting that need first is the basis for a friendship to begin?

Today I drove to the city again, through the business section streets into steadily poorer residential areas until I reached my destination. I parked my car in the visitor section, rode the elevator to the fifth floor, and walked down the hallway to the unit I was visiting.

I was assigned to this family by the organization I’m working for, but my heart loves them all way more than just an “assignment.”

As I fed the infant her bottle, trusting brown eyes gazing back at me… lotioning her coffee-coloured body after her bath & hearing the music of her baby giggles (that tickles my tummy!)… brushing through her coarse but adorable black curls… my heartstrings have no trouble attaching to this precious miracle of God.

The five year old – no single adjective can describe this bundle of defiant, tender-hearted, independent, scared, guarded, loveable child. She’s mature beyond her years, doesn’t trust easily, and desparately needs love poured into the darkness that is her life. No matter how rough she may try to convince me that she is, I see her heart. And when she whispers, “I just need a hug,” my own heart swells as I realize how quickly this dear girl moved right in to my heart…

And finally, their mom. A beautiful lady, broken in so many ways, but precious to her Maker.

Our differences… vast, by human standards. And that’s an understatement!

But that’s just because people look at the outer person. God sees our hearts, and when He looks at both of us, He sees a wounded heart in need of love.

In God’s sight, we’re both prone to sin, we both have joys and sorrows, we both need Him.

And although our backgrounds are polar extremes, we are similar in personality. We somehow click.

I realized it today after we shared a laugh about an amusing moment, so I mentioned it to her.

“You know, this might sound odd, but I’m starting to think you’re a lot like me in some ways.”

She laughed, motioned between us – the difference in our appearances, dress, tatoos or lack thereof, hairstyles, etc is startling to an onlookeer – and replied, “I know. It’s shocking to say this, but… you’re oddly… relatable. I didn’t expect that.”

So, it turns out that humans are humans. People are people. No matter what we wear, believe, or live like.

What if the basis for friendship is to first of all love and accept eachother as we are?