June 13th, 2020: The Richness of Relationships

 

Human Relationships (PhD) | Students - Wilfrid Laurier University
 
It was good to see people face to face for the first time during this past week as the restrictions are slowly lifted where I am. As much as I appreciate what technology has been able to do for us, it can never really replace real contact with people. Somehow we are able to have a better idea of how people are really doing and what they are really saying to us.

So what I am hearing from people after three months of the state of emergency?

A) Relationships are more important than many things. Many have realized how they have taken some people in their lives for granted until they could not see them. It is like having a 360-degree lens so that we can have a more comprehensive view of our life.

B) Relationships help us to know that we are alive. Something is missing and life is not the same without being able to nurture and enjoy the relationships we cherish. For me seeing people face to face this last week is like have a refreshing cold glass of water after a long run under the heat.

C) Relationships really give us a push when we are stuck in life for some reason. We are able to dream again because dreams are more exciting when we have friends and family with us. Dreams are even more important now than ever.

D) Relationships help us to be anchored in the midst of life turbulence. In the past three months, many lives have been turned upside down and they need good relationships to stabilize them. We need that stability to counter the external instability which seems to be a certainty these days.

E) Relationships affirm us that we have the ability to love and care for others. Somehow that in itself enlarges the meaning and the purpose of life. It is not about what we are going to receive but to invest in others relationally.

I am always thankful for people in my life. My life has become a lot richer and deeper because of many of these relationships.

Proverbs 17: 17
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

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