In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit. --Albert Schweitzer

Though I don’t count many as one, truly, I have always been thankful for my friends. Yet, it wasn't until an extraordinary occurrence recently that I've even begun to understand the real power of friendship.

Like love—because its essence is based on love—friendship can ove...