Can You Swim? by Jan-Derick Nel

Last updated on: September 30, 2010 at 10:54 pm by editorconvergingzone

Can You Swim? by Jan-Derick Nel 2010-09-30T22:54:00-08:00 editorconvergingzone

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

We are afloat in a virtual ocean of relationships every day. We have to be able to swim to truly live in this world.

Some float by in their life jackets. Others use boats to ride by without getting wet. Both miss experiencing the ocean – the danger, the excitement and the joy of real relationships.

Good relationships are key to a successful society. Here I not only refer to good business relationships or stable political relationships, but in fact the intimate relationships that have been disappearing steadily – relationships between man and wife, brothers and sisters, and friends. Our value systems have become corrupted by the subjective post-modern era we live in – we are now all rebels without a cause!

We don’t want to waste time swimming through relationships that might keep us from realizing our own potential. We would rather start the engine on our power boat and cut across the surface, i.e., use people to get where we want to go. This has become the pragmatic approach to relationships.

On the other hand there are those who realize that even such things as the economy are based upon relationships. In spite of people setting their own goals and using other people only when they need them to fulfill these goals, there are those who recognize the need for authentic people to know one another and work together. No longer can we afford to simply interact as if self-interest is the only driving factor, but we must see that the lack of intimate relationships is partially responsible for the current economic crisis.

Perhaps it is difficult for you to make this connection, but think about it… It was people who made the transactions that fueled the sub-prime mortgage crisis. Money in itself is simply a symbol of agreement. When I walk into a shop and offer to buy an item, both the shop owner and I have to agree that my money holds a certain value. If we cannot agree on this, there will be no transaction.

The same applies to buying a house. The question is what went wrong in the relationship that allowed so many people to get into so much debt. Perhaps, if the transaction had been based on relationship, one of the people would have said, “No.”

If we are truly concerned about the effect of our actions on a global scale, never mind on our next-door neighbors, we should consider how we relate to the other swimmers in this ocean and how our actions will affect their reality – what the relationship is between our actions and them.

It is time we get out of our boats and get wet so we can face how relational interaction affects who we are and how we should live together. Perhaps we would discover that relationships can become a very real, but different, form of transportation that could carry us through the stormy seas ahead.

Principle Based Evaluation: Meaningful relationships require investment. Relationships are not a means to an end but an end in themselves. Furthermore, policy makers should recognize that the economy serves relationships, not the other way around.

For more information on the author, Jan-Derick Nel, go to: http://www.thekonstrukt.blogspot.com

Coach Robert

Previous Post

September 30, 2010

The Agents of Change by Dr. Patti Amsden

Next Post

October 1, 2010 Economic Lessons from History by Gerald Chester

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Arts & Entertainment Business Coach Robert Coaching Community Education Faith Family/Relationships Government Health History/Biography Leadership Marriage Mindset Musings Science Technology

Select a Month June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

The great day of the Lord is near—a day of wrath, distress, anguish, trouble, ruin, and what?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Fire and brimstone Blood and thunder Plague and famine Darkness and gloom