Friendship

I read the following somewhere, though I cannot recall where or when:
"The most valuable part of a cup is the empty space in the center."
That got me thinking, and I wrote the following:
With what part of ourselves do we perceive nature?
Where do we hear God?
Where do our friends live?
The empty space in the center.

And what is there beyond nature, God, and friendship? There is nothing beyond these three. When I say this, I am thinking of friendship in its most expansive meaning, including the friendship that is the relationship between man and wife, between parent and child, friendship -- the connection between the souls of two people.

I'm writing this as we approach the nativity, as we wait in anticipation of the presense of God once again. Now, as you all know so well, is the time to cultivate emptiness so that we may see, so that we may hear, so that we may perceive.

I would love to hear all of your thoughts on this topic.