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Monday, December 24, 2007

Friendships


The Old Testament Trinity, St Andrei Rublev

It's one thing to understand on the academic level that mankind is called to grow into the communion and life of the Trinity but it's another thing entirely to see the effects of this in our day-to-day relationships.

Within the past month or so, I have, by God's grace, experienced the peace and happiness that have come with family relationships that are improving for the first time since the late unpleasantness. The need of man to be at one with his fellow human beings in a relationship of love is one that really cannot be denied. It just feels right, and it is the state in which we find ourselves at our happiest. At no time is this more evident than when relationships suffer or, worse yet, come to an end entirely. I have also had a friendship come to a very painful (but practically necessary) end, and although there has been no animosity involved, I feel so empty, as though an essential part of me has been removed. It's a similar feeling to that experienced when somebody dies.

I'm not wailing or lamenting, but rather just sharing my musings. It is one of those
occasions - you'll all know the ones I mean - where I have suddenly come to an awareness of real life and doctrine meeting, and it just struck me as noteworthy. I suppose I've nothing much more interesting than that to say.

Do have a holy celebration of the Nativity of the Lord God, those of you who are celebrating today.

5 comments:

Elizabeth @ The Garden Window said...

I have just finished wrapping presents for the small ones as we celebrate the Feast tomorrow :-)

May your Nativity Fast continue to be richly blessed as you progress towards the Nativity Feast, Michael !

Michael said...

God bless you, Elizabeth. Thank you so much.

I have been out of the blogosphere for so long that I wondered whether people would have forgotten about me but it seems you still subscribe. :-)

Have a blessed and holy Christmass. I hope the little ones enjoy the prezzies. :-)

Pax,
Michael

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful blessing indeed! Thanks and praise be to God!

And thank you for your Nativity wishes for those of us who celebrate it now. May the Advent/Nativity Fast continue to be a blessed time for you.

Elizabeth @ The Garden Window said...

Michael,
I subscribe to your blog via Bloglines as well as following your posts on The Ship !

You are very often in my thoughts and prayers.

Michael said...

Thank you, Ian, and you, Elizabeth.

You know, engaging with the same people on the Ship often makes me forget that it is a public forum and, whenever somebody says they read what I say there, I often have a momentary panic, trying to recall what I have said, when, and to whom. :-D I suppose it's a bit like those occasions when people come up to me in real life and say, 'I saw you on Thursday', and I begin to wonder where I was and what I was doing.

Fortunately, I'm generally well-behaved and try not to break too many laws.

Your prayers are much appreciated.

Pax,
Michael