What effect is this relationship having on my community relationships? If my needs are being met in my friendship, I will be more loving toward others and more tolerant of them. On the other hand, if I am merely seeking ego gratification, I will find others boring. I will resent spending time on community projects and refuse to listen to my community as a whole or to specific individuals. If I am in a position of authority, this is a particularly grave situation.
–Teresita Scully, “Discernment of Friendships”–very much reminds me of the discussions of friendship serving vs. detracting from leadership, in my college debating society….