Development of Relationships

It may be a flirtation leading to marriage, a casual acquaintance which blossoms into a deep life-long friendship, or a crowded-elevator accidental elbow-brushing leading to a long-time rock-solid business association. Regardless, there seems to be an evolving spectrum of intensity in relationships. It starts with mere acknowledgment of the other, then a noting of similarities and differences, followed by a decision to tolerate perceived differences. Then the magic begins—a reconciliation of these differences. We realize that they are outweighed by a real appreciation of the other person’s otherness, which births a desire to relate, to form a significant bond. We find ourselves actually beginning actively to work on the relationship.
Some of these steps may be subconscious; some are shorter than others; but the process leads to a widening of our horizon, a fresh perspective. The result is the dawning of the concept that people–relationships—are more important than things, a mark of maturity.
Come to think of it, with a few modifications, isn’t this how we come to know Jesus?