It's All About People

As I think back over the past year of being at a new place, what strikes me the most is people, relationships. We have struck up a number of new, meaningful friendships and relationships, have maintained friendships, and have been able to continue and re-kindle past relationships.

I am by no means mature in my years . . . or all that wise . . . but it seems to me that what is, or should be, very important in our lives is people, relationships.

The Jewish and Christian scriptures start off that way. The first two chapters of the first book of the Bible describe, in detail, the importance of relationships, of our being in relation to one another . . . and to God. So many other wisdom and religious literature speak of life being about deep, meaningful relationships, or friends, if you will.

My years of vocational church ministry have taught me the importance of people. I was taught, early on, that if I had to choose between working on some type of church program/activity/event or spending time with someone(s), always choose spending time. And that has proven to be true. What has made the most impact over the years, both in my life and in the lives of others, is relationships, spending time with others, doing life with people.

What relationships do we need to devote more time and energy to? What relationships do we need to strike up . . . or begin new again? How do we need to use our imagination and creativity to re-invigorate old or maybe somewhat stale relationships?