The Importance of Relationships
The story of creation is told in Genesis (chapters 1 & 2) where God created a perfect world with plants, animals and man to live in. God created man (Adam) to look after his creation but also so he could be in a relationship with him, to love him and be loved in return. He created Eve for Adam because he knew Adam needed a mate. The definition of relationship is(www.thefreedictionary.com):
1. The condition or fact of being related; connection or association.
2. Connection by blood or marriage; kinship.
3. A particular type of connection existing between people related to or having dealings with each other:
4. A romantic or sexual involvement.
If this was God's plan from the start then why do we have such difficulties with being in relationship with others? We live in a very selfish world (no surprise due to sin) where many of us choose to live apart from others. By this I mean, even if you are single you choose to not have connections to others (friendships/families/acquaintances). People choose not to consider the impact their actions or inactions have on others. It seems to me that it is all about me, for example, when you've had enough with someone then we just throw them away like a piece of garbage because there is someone else out there for me (whether that is a friend/family member or partner). Or maybe it is that other people don't fit in with our lifestyle because they are not the right gender, have the right position, have money, don't look the right way or behave the right way and this may impact on how others see me.
Unfortunately we do this with animals too, when they become too costly, too much work or don't fit in with our lifestyle we throw them away. We forget that animals too have feelings, can feel physical pain, rejection and grief etc.
What is it with our world, where we receive emails, texts or phone calls and will evaluate whether or not we want to respond at that time or not at all? We question do I want to be bothered with this person right now, do I have something more important to do than to answer this call, respond etc.? What we are really saying by our inaction is that, I am more important right now than you and my time is more precious than yours.
I think the majority of us that do this (and lets face it, we all do!) doesn't even think of how the other person feels. These people have reached out their hand in friendship/relationship or connection and we have rejected it. We have said I don't care about you, you are not important to me.
Now, dont jump on the bandwagon, I know sometimes there are legitimate reasons why you cant respond right now, but if you can please be mindful of how your inactions affect others. Just let them know you cant respond now but will as soon as you can. I knew of this young teenage girl, who was in a passenger in a car with erratic driver, she knew she was going to be killed in a car accident as this was the intention of the driver. Before she did she was able to phone her mum, tell her mum I love you and that she was going to lose her life. Imagine how both of them would have felt if her mum chose not to answer that call? Unfortunately, she did lose her life that day. Just think of how many suicides have been prevented because someone responded when he or she called for help. All relationships are hard but are worth all the effort. I saw on a church billboard once friends are Gods way of loving us through others and I believe this is very true.
How many times in our lives have we been blessed through others? Even a simple smile, a waggy tail (from our dog), a text from a friend that says, hi, how are you? thinking of you today. I'm praying for you, etc. can brighten our day.
Many people these days are in the pursuit of happiness and two key features which are common denominators (http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/docs/Happiness.pdf) Happiness comes from; meaningful relationships that you have with others (quality not quantity) and giving back to others or doing things for others/animals.
As we think about the life of Jesus and the many things he showed us, was ultimately based on one idea unconditional love for others. This sums up his whole reason for being here and living amongst us. I love how he did this for others regardless of how he got treated or whether or not he was loved in return. Luke 10:27 is Jesus new commandment Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbour as yourself. Whenever I think of this, the Beatles song all you need is love goes over in my head. Yes, we do need to receive love but we are also called to love others.
Consider the importance of being in healthy relationships with others. You can experience love by giving, then you will receive (happiness and love) in return and so God can bless you through others. I hope and pray that all our relationships improve and flourish.
Something to think about........
Professor : You are a Christian, aren't you, son ?
Student : Yes, sir.
Professor: So, you believe in GOD ?
Student : Absolutely, sir.
Professor : Is GOD good ?
Student : Sure.
Professor: Is GOD all powerful ?
Student : Yes.
Professor: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to GOD to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But GOD didn't. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?
(Student was silent.)
Professor: You cant answer, can you ? Lets start again, young fella. Is GOD good?
Student : Yes.
Professor: Is satan good ?
Student : No.
Professor: Where does satan come from ?
Student : From GOD
Professor: That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?
Student : Yes.
Professor: Evil is everywhere, isn't it ? And GOD did make everything. Correct?
Student :Yes
Professor: So who created evil ?
(Student did not answer.)
Professor: Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, dont they?
Student : Yes, sir.
Professor: So, who created them ?
(Student had no answer.)
Professor: Science says you have 5 Senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son, have you ever seen GOD?
Student : No, sir.
Professor: Tell us if you have ever heard your GOD?
Student : No ,sir.
Professor: Have you ever felt your GOD, tasted your GOD, smell your GOD? Have you ever had any sensory perception of GOD for that matter?
Student : No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
Professor: Yet you still believe in Him?
Student : Yes.
Professor : According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?
Student : Nothing. I only have my faith.
Professor: Yes, faith. And that is the problem Science has.
Student : Professor, is there such a thing as heat?
Professor: Yes.
Student : And is there such a thing as cold? Professor: Yes.
Student : No, sir. There isnt.
(The lecture theatre became very quiet with this turn of events.)
Student : Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don't have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we cant go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.
(There was pin-drop silence in the lecture theater.)
Student : What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?
Professor: Yes. What is night if there isn't darkness?
Student : You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light. But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and its called darkness, isn't it? In reality, darkness isn't. If it is, were you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?
Professor: So what is the point you are making, young man ?
Student : Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.
Professor: Flawed ? Can you explain how?
Student : Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good GOD and a bad GOD. You are viewing the concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, Science cant even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing.
Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?
Professor: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.
Student : Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?
(The Professor shook his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument was going.)
Student : Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor. Are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher?
(The class was in uproar.)
Student : Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professors brain?
(The class broke out into laughter. )
Student : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professors brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?
(The room was silent. The Professor stared at the student, his face unfathomable.)
Professor: I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son.
Student : That is it sir Exactly ! The link between man & GOD is FAITH. That is all that keeps things alive and moving.
By the way, that student was EINSTEIN
