Book excerpt: Eugene Peterson believes that friendships are a vital - and increasingly rare - way in which God answers our need for guidance, encouragement, affirmation, and correction. In The Wisdom of Each Other, he demonstrates how the concerns of life can be met with the insights that come through transparent, Christ-centered relationships. Through a series of letters written to an old friend, Peterson brings to life friendship as a means to Christian maturity. The topics covered in these eloquent, personal messages are as varied as the broad spectrum of life. One thing, however, comes through with constancy and clarity: the value of a wise, experienced friend to help us see more clearly and to strengthen our growth in faith and godliness.