facades, authenticity, distance...

Human beings are all familiar with facades. I think modern life people are even more familiar with that...there are so many thing which hinder authenticity. Technology is one huge obstruction to authenticity I believe... we can easily hide in the virtual world of internet, smses, blogs etc. We think we are connecting but are we really connecting? Technology seems to cause people to come in touch with each other more easily and more quickly, but it also seems to cause us to fear face to face interactions more. Comfort zones become smaller and smaller...and over time, the lack of security increases.

Is this God's intention or is it man's doing? Went to a plenary session of a seminar last week and the speaker said something which contains so much truth, he said that this is the principle which governs modern-day relationship,

"When I draw closer to you, I feel hurt, when I move away from you, I feel lonely."

We are all yearning for authentic relationships, but many a times, we are not prepared to risk getting hurt and to trust with all our hearts. We also seem to find it harder to reconcile with those who have hurt us. Has God been the one giving us less power and strength to forgive and hope for change in Him? Or are we the ones who have changed and have turned cold.

What is God's original design?

Do we dare to love? Do we dare to risk getting hurt? Do we dare to face rejection? Jesus went through them all. He loved with all His heart, He was utterly hurt by those who crucified Him, He was rejected...yet, His love remains to this day. Can we love others with such love?

Divorce rates are rising everywhere...it just shows how vulnerable modern-day relationships are. It's sad, cos that also means that more children will be growing up in broken homes. Many begin to wonder whether there is LOVE, and HOPE.

1 Cor 13:4-8
"4Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails."

The truth of God endures forever...and it's the truth of God that holds every relationship together in love and harmony. Being married for close to a year, I am beginning to catch a glimpse of the reality of a marital relationship. Many often tell me that it's difficult to maintain the marital relationship. It's not all rosy, it's not at all easy...because we are imperfect. And I often tell others, love is far more than just emotions and feelings, it involves a person's will, commitment and devotion.

But thanks be to God who is Love....:)

I hope to see a world with less facades...and a world where people relate to one another just as they are...a world with empathy for those who are hurting...a world with hope for healing.