What marks our relationships

I could be reading this completely wrong, but from where I sit as a pastor and leader in the faith, it seems to me that most of our relationships are marked more by convenience than commitment.

This is dangerous for at least two reasons:

First, we don’t realize that convenience was the motivating factor until we’re faced with inconvenience. If our relationship activity is mostly the result of proximity, then once that ease of proximity is removed, the relationship will suffer. Translation, when a global pandemic puts obstacles in the way of getting together, the relationships based around convenience won’t fight through those obstacles. The bottom line? Relationships of convenience won’t survive inconveniences.

The second is simply that it is in those inconvenient times that most of us need the relationships the most. Ancient wisdom speaks loudly here: “It is not good for the man to be alone.” Loneliness has become more of an epidemic than the pandemic, and the only way through loneliness is in relationships that are marked by commitment more than convenience. The bottom line? A commitment to each another can overcome the obstacles between each another.

What are your relationships marked by the most? Perhaps, like me, you’ve come to the sobering understanding that you’ve allowed convenience to drive them more than commitment. Take the time to grieve that reality and then make the time to renew the commitment to the relationships that mean the most to you.

That is the way forward, and when you go that way, you’ll leave loneliness behind.

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