DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS (7 OF 7)
Scripture: GENESIS 2:18
This content is part of a series.
Developing Relationships (7 of 7)
Series: Life Choices
David Cawston
Genesis 2:18
Introduction:
A father wanted to teach his six-year-old daughter about the harsh realities of life – so he stood her on the edge of the bed and then backed away a couple of feet and said, "Jump, honey. I'll catch you!" Hesitantly, the little girl leaped off the bed, expecting to be caught – but her father moved back and let her fall to the floor, and when she hit the ground, she cried, "Why did you drop me, Daddy?" "Because," her father answered. "I want you to learn not to trust anybody."
Few of us have experienced such cruelty at the hands of parents – but most of us know how the little girl felt.
We have leaped into the arms of others – only to hit the ground with a life shattering crash.
We've been abandoned, taken advantage of, betrayed and misunderstood.
We've all been deeply wounded by others, and as a result, we've learned not to trust.
We harden ourselves, lock up our hearts, and throw away the key.
We stay away from relationships because relationships mean pain.
We drift emotionally detached through life from others.
We don't allow people to get close.
While in one sense this keeps us from being hurt, it actually leads to a different type of hurt.
If there is any pain worse than being wounded through a relationship, it's the shutting off of ourselves from relationships, and enduring the suffering that comes from isolation and loneliness.
Loneliness is the greatest disease of our society.
Author Ann Lamont reflects, "Most of the people I know who have what I want, which is to say purpose, heart, balance, gratitude, joy – are people in community."
You see, there's a good reason for that.
We were created to know others and to be known by others, and that happens in community.
Albert Schweitzer said, "We are all so much together, but we are all dying of loneliness.
Turn to Genesis 1 & 2
In the story of Creation i ...
Series: Life Choices
David Cawston
Genesis 2:18
Introduction:
A father wanted to teach his six-year-old daughter about the harsh realities of life – so he stood her on the edge of the bed and then backed away a couple of feet and said, "Jump, honey. I'll catch you!" Hesitantly, the little girl leaped off the bed, expecting to be caught – but her father moved back and let her fall to the floor, and when she hit the ground, she cried, "Why did you drop me, Daddy?" "Because," her father answered. "I want you to learn not to trust anybody."
Few of us have experienced such cruelty at the hands of parents – but most of us know how the little girl felt.
We have leaped into the arms of others – only to hit the ground with a life shattering crash.
We've been abandoned, taken advantage of, betrayed and misunderstood.
We've all been deeply wounded by others, and as a result, we've learned not to trust.
We harden ourselves, lock up our hearts, and throw away the key.
We stay away from relationships because relationships mean pain.
We drift emotionally detached through life from others.
We don't allow people to get close.
While in one sense this keeps us from being hurt, it actually leads to a different type of hurt.
If there is any pain worse than being wounded through a relationship, it's the shutting off of ourselves from relationships, and enduring the suffering that comes from isolation and loneliness.
Loneliness is the greatest disease of our society.
Author Ann Lamont reflects, "Most of the people I know who have what I want, which is to say purpose, heart, balance, gratitude, joy – are people in community."
You see, there's a good reason for that.
We were created to know others and to be known by others, and that happens in community.
Albert Schweitzer said, "We are all so much together, but we are all dying of loneliness.
Turn to Genesis 1 & 2
In the story of Creation i ...
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