“Gandalf” is not my friend’s real name, but in the interest of his privacy I think “Gandalf” suits well.
Gandalf is my wise and gentle friend. Always willing to have a chat about philosophy, theology, and life. He is incredibly well-read and takes nuanced positions. We don’t always agree, but I highly value his insight and wisdom.
1. Wisdom
Gandalf loves to read, do research and accumulates a lot of knowledge. Through this collection of knowledge, seeing the world in it’s current state, and living life, he has arrived at wisdom I love to interact with. Many a time when I have impulsively started going down a tangent or direction that would lead me to have a flawed philosophical or theological view of the world, Gandalf has gently corrected me with often a single word.
2. Gentleness
Gandalf is gentle. He avoids making assumptions, allows for ambiguity, and doesn’t put you down. One time when I very impulsively organised a group for a movie, my friend Gandalf very gently pointed out the dodgy stuff in the movie and how it wouldn’t be appropriate to watch. This was done in a manner of great gentleness and humility without compromising on what was needed to be said.