Relationships reveals Grace

I am struck by how Grace reveals Itself in relationships. There are numerous forms of relationships ranging from the most intimate such as one between couples, parents and children, to self and society. But the more intimate we become with another, the more there is an opportunity to experience Grace and perceive God’s back.

Recently, my wife and I were able to spend some quality time together. My brother watched the kids and my wife and I relaxed into some quiet space. There, we were able to slow down enough to hear what the other is thinking and feeling. We untangled some confusion and reinforced what we know to be true in our relationship. As others have written, our thoughts are like clouds, transparent and impermanent. The Truth is like the ground below, expansive and solid. If one were to be above looking down, the thought-clouds drift over the landscape of Truth causing the view of the landscape to be obscured. But once the we look past the clouds or see through them, we perceive Truth. This process feels to me as though Grace is in the motion with clouds, Truth, and observing. (Who is the observer?)

Through the connecting with one another, we can see through the clouds, Truth is revealed. It has always been there but our observation has been limited with our thinking. The relationship provides us with one opportunity to experience Grace, to feel and know It intimately. Again, there are vast types of relationships. There can be relationship-to-task. As an artist is in motion with their medium, a profound touching reveals an indescribable beauty. With our partner though, there is a vulnerability, and exposure, that is often nonparallel to most relationships. Here, in this context, I experience a face of God. However, it requires me to surrender my thoughts, my judgments of what ought to be or not. Instead, just be present, fully. Interestingly, when I reflect on the perception of God, it now becomes a view of the back. For God is captured in time and perception which is never right now.

My wish for humanity is that it could for a moment suspend its thinking and just do nothing but listen. And when the clouds of thinking roll across, we are mindful that they are just clouds, temporary. And look just below those clouds to perceive a beauty that is unexplainable. You can only point to as I am doing here. Our most intimate relationships are pointers and windows into what is timeless and where limit exist in but not around. How beautiful our relationships with our partners, children, siblings, and friends can be. May you see Grace reveal this blessing. May you have the courage to stop and listen without expectations. Be prepared, however, to experience the showers of love on your face.