After we’d both moved  to Charleston following college graduation, we met in the summer of 2022 through a mutual friend. We became very quick friends, and it was so exciting to have a friendship with so many shared values and interests.

After listening to and attending many Theology on Tuesdays, we found that many conversations led to the topic of deepening friendships. In one particular TOT, Justin and Brian talked about specific ways to deepen friendships—one of them being reading and discussing books. In an effort to grow our connection with each other and our faith, we decided to start a weekly reading plan in which we would read and discuss a few chapters of a book over dinner.

At that point, neither of us had read Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. It had been on both of our reading lists for years, so we chose to start there! In addition, we had caught wind of Brian’s Mere Christianity class-turned-podcast back in 2020 and thought that it would be a great resource to help digest each chapter. From there, we got started, and we have been reading and discussing ever since!

Since then, we’ve read The Common Rule by Justin Whitmel Earley and True Friendship by Vaughan Roberts and are currently in the process of choosing our next book (we will take any and all recommendations!).

Having read multiple books together at this point, we can both speak to how this has transformed our friendship. Knowing you can approach a friend with anything life throws at you for meaningful advice and tender listening makes for a truly comforting, life-giving relationship. It is a relationship to treasure. We have open, honest discussions about what these books mean to us and how the principles can be applied in our lives, and we ask questions about the ideology, often getting reminded in our readings of the simple truths of the Lord’s love.

We both cannot recommend forming a “book club” with a friend enough! Yes, it takes time and effort, which are so often hard to come by, but the result is worth it. Reading opens your mind to so many beautiful things, and how sweet it is to be able to share it with someone so dear! Thank you, Brian and Justin for the advice––clearly it has been taken to heart!