Why Our Relationships Matter
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A stone mason working with 13 century tools at the Guedelon construction site. The stone is cut on site. The blacksmith shop makes the tools. When we were there in the fall of 2014 they thought they had found an ore deposit and might even be able to build a furnace and make their own iron using 13th century practices.
Why Our Relationships Matter
I delivered the message at church Sunday. What a humbling experience standing in front of a congregation. The people have come to the service for various reasons, but mainly to receive a message of hope that God is at work in our world and in their lives. They are looking to me to make the connection between God and their daily lives. It leaves me feeling very unworthy.
I have the same doubts and concerns they hold. I know that as we struggle through, we will build on our relationships with each other and our God, and it will work out.
Our scriptures (taken from the Common Lectionary) were from Matthew 5:22-37 and dealt with relationships. What can be more important to our lives and our spiritual development than the relationships we have experienced? We are the accumulation of all of those relationships and the events. These relationships have shaped everything in our lives from our attitudes, to our beliefs, to the way we approach other relationships. It is these experiences which have made us what we are today.
Our relationships offer us a place of refuge. The relationships can range from the safety of a parent, to the love of a spouse (significant other), to the fun of being with a friend, to the predictable sameness of our work. Whatever the case of these relationships, they need to be nourished and supported.
The beauty of our relationships is that we control them. We have the power to stop unhealthy relationships and the power to start new positive relationships. I know it is difficult to make changes. It is very hard to make changes and begin moving our lives in a different direction. The process of living is not easy but it is at our command.
We have the power to step off the treadmill where we are running, remove the clutter which is clouding our judgment and open ourselves to positive relationships. Why keep running in the same circles and expect something different to happen?
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