The Gift of Relationship

I came across these words written by Rosella Kameo who is a missionary in Indonesia. She writes, "Individualism has always been part of our Western identity. I wonder if we are so individualistic now, though, that we have lost sight of who we are. Have we lost our sense of community and commitment to the common good? Rising divorce rates, child abuse, and school shootings dominate our deadlines. Code orange warns us that we need to protect ourselves from the rest of the world. Could it be we are losing our ability to relate to others?"

That is a very powerful question and it makes me ask myself if indeed, are we losing our ability to be in relationship with each other? I don't think we ever really lose our ability, but somehow it has lost its importance. There was a time when our very survival depended on being in community with each other. Families lived close together and everyone helped each other with the day to day living. In some cultures and in some parts of the world it is still very much like that. Technology has made it possible to do almost anything through the computer so we don't have to talk to each other. Many of our children have grown up in front the this same computer as parents are busy trying to get everything done. One distraction can mean something gets left undone. I often hear people decribe that this feels like a treadmill and there is no time for relationship with family or anyone else. Each day becomes a list of things that have to get completed. Virginia Satir says describes it like this: " How often have I noticed people who looked without seeing, listened without hearing, spoke without meaning, moved without awareness, touched without feeling...The greatest gift I can give is to see, hear, understand and to touch another person." Peole have a basic human need to connect and be in relationship with others and when we get too busy to make that a priority, we lose our sense of belonging. And it is this sense of belonging that nurtures and sustains us.

We would love to hear your stories and comments about being in relationship and community with others. You can email us at inpeaceandjoy@msn.com