The Relationship Game

It's all about maximization.

Our experience on Earth can be boiled down to three types of relationships:

1. Relationships with people
2. Relationships with nature
3. Relationships with ourselves

Nothing we do is in fact an end in itself. For instance, playing a softball game is not about the success or the fun of playing the game, it is the means to understanding others and understanding ourselves. Again, finishing a book is not about escaping or excitement, it is about gaining insight into the human condition to better our relationships with others and ourselves. Finally, hiking a mountain is not for the sheer adrenaline or to check another mountain off a list, it is about connecting with nature and experiencing solitude.

These relationships that we engage in during our time on Earth all lead to a greater relationship with The One Who Created Us. He designed us with the intent for us to explore, know, challenge and relate to nature, other humans and ourselves. In fact the whole world was created by God in His image, thus strengthening these relationships can only mean strengthening our relationship with the God of the Universe.

Now, I am sure I could take any action, activity or thought and trace its roots back to one of these three relationship categories. Which means, most of what we do daily and living life in general is additive to our relationships with ourselves, nature and others (and in turn God). However we must begin to maximize these relationships by participating in those activities and engaging those thoughts that are the most positive and helpful in strengthening our relationships in the most effective way. In essence, we do not have time to spare and must replace seemingly less worthy acts with those of greater significance in order to maximize our time on Earth and strengthen these relationships as much as possible in order to know The One who Created the Heaven and the Earth.