This morning I was reading in a place that I don't usually pick up ideas for relationships, the book of Leviticus in the Bible. The passages were all about what the Israelites had to do if they sinned to receive forgiveness. What hit me was the detail of the description and the impact on me was that God wanted a continuing relationship with His people and He prescribed very specific things to be done for that relationship to be continued.
Where this took me was am I willing to go through whatever efforts it might take for me to remain in relationship with others? Will I forgive others when they hurt or offend me? Will I seek their forgiveness when I hurt or offend them? Am I willing to seek others out and build relationship even when we simply disagree or have waned in our expressions of friendship, family or love? How important are the relationships in my life?
As a male I may have fewer inclinations towards relationships than a female might but as a human being I am designed at some level to be a social being. In the cultures I grew up in relationships were often not deeply encouraged or pursued. Now as I have read this morning I am more aware of the effort and time that relationships take.
It is fascinating to me that this is the subject that brought me back to this blog after such a long time of non involvement. I truly hope that over time this will be another place to learn and grow with others as I share about relationships and as I learn from any who might read and respond.
