Relatively speaking...

Relationship. The center of all. The relationship between any two people, things, places, is how we find our own relative place.* It's how we form opinions. How we find purpose. Relationships are the filter through which the world trickles into understanding. A lack of relationship can bring chaos and confusion. Here are a few examples to start the thought process.

Our relationship with Christ directs how we live, how we view the world. Our actions are changed through the closeness of this relationship. It also gives us meaning, and affects our relationship with others.

Our relationship with family forms a framework on which other relationships are built. This can be an advantage or a crippling disability, causing consequent relationships to be relatively healthy or chronicly afflicted.

Time is relative--sometimes speeding, othertimes lazily loitering.

Relationship is the medium for comparison. It is the basis for conflict, motivation, pride, denial, self-esteem, age, bias, and change. It determines what we view as large or small, important or trivial, having depth or power. Relationships are the most influential force in our lives. Cultivate relationships with results in mind. Be a conductor of hope, joy, peace, healing, prudence, favor, and passion. A bringer of blessing, empathy, fidelity, patience, selflessness, and purpose. Be aware and be what you want to see in the world.

*Note: The absence of relationship is still relationship, just in negative form (not negative as bad, but think math...I hate math).

wide spectrum world

Do you ever have the same discussions over and over again with yourself? I know I do. I have such persuasive arguments. Such appealing propositions and perspectives. I can repeat the same subject matter in personal dialogue and have it end differently each time. I can be a great debater, especially with myself. And yet, so often, I am left so far from an absolute conclusion.

I suppose this stems from my wide spectrum world. While I do believe some choices are black and white, I believe the majority are colored. Not so easily distinguished into sides. Each with its own unique degree of variation, its own saturation, intensity, and value. Much like people.

We can only see what people allow to be reflected. In some cases this makes our decisions more complicated, but even knowing what people are reflecting shows us a glimpse of their value system. And how we categorize every color shows us our own depth and position. From there we decide which direction to move in.

This is usually where our internal conversation begins again. Hopefully they are challenging and productive. Even perhaps allowing us to be more open to change when no fixed resolution is found, allowing the deliberation to continue indefinitely.

this watery blue funk

Infinitely. That's the answer to the question. It may not seem possible, but time has proven it over and over. It's unclear as to how the phenomena works. After all, there can only be so many pieces. There can only be so much left. And yet, there's no sign of finality. Just when things appear to be at the end, on the precipice of excruciating, to the point of nothing worse, it happens. Just like that. No matter if it's expected or ignored. No matter if it's a new brand of pain or simply the reusable form that's known. Even when prepared, the actual shattering is still a shock. It's impossible to find an equilibrium, between this kind of hope and anguish, that is capable of building a wall thick enough to protect. There is no escape. Just Sadness. Fear. Frustration. Love. Hurt. And Hope. Yes, even still hope. Hanging onto even the smallest glimmer of a dream. Besides, how many times can one heart break?

I'll Listen

Okay, so I think I was really blessed to be a younger sister. I've never felt the need to learn from experience. I always had someone older to learn from, if not my brother then at least of one his friends. I never appreciated this as a child, or even a teenager, but I now know the value of it as an adult. Not that I don't make countless mistakes of my own, but I am perfectly willing to not make the same mistakes as others. I don't always succeed, but I think in this regard, life is less of a challenge for me.

Also as a younger child I learned to observe. While the older kids would go off and play together, I would choose to sit and listen to the adults. It's amazing what we can learn if we really listen and hear what people are saying--and what they're not. This is easy to do when you're an objective viewer, less so when you're an emotionally involved participant. While I may know the value of listening from childhood, I have come to understand the price of not listening as an adult. It would be wonderful if knowledge always translated into behavior, wisdom into actions, and experience into motivation.

Unfortunately, I'm all too human, with my own personal mix of flaws. I will no doubt let you down, hurt your feelings, trample your pride, and offend your sensibilities. I may appear intimidating or fragile, seem too emotional or void of any emotion at all. I might even break your trust. But it won't be intentional. I may not even know I've done it. I really do desire to put into practice the knowledge, wisdom, and experience I've gleaned from so many of you.

So keep experiencing life. Make mistakes. Have success. But don't forget to tell me about it. I'll listen.