I love those who love me,
and those who seek me find me.
Proverbs 8:17
I have had a number of clients who have a “disconnect” with their partner in one of the three areas that are essential for a strong relationship. Those areas are the spiritual, emotional, and physical dimensions of ourselves. We need to have a way to connect with our partner in each of these critical parts of ourselves to have real intimacy in that relationship.
I characterize the spiritual connection as a core part of ourselves that is deep within us, but it drives our soul life. We each have a spiritual journey, and I think it might be unique to all of us. We are working out our “God relationship”, and we need to share that part of our life with the person that is closest to us.
Each partner needs to have a respect for that journey in the other. I believe that, as a Christian, Jesus showed us “the Way” to live life. He was “the Way” to understanding and loving the Father. Jesus taught us to love the Father by loving others. As I have said often, the Bible states that there is “one way” to God, through his son, Jesus. But I have also learned that there are many ways that people find and come to Jesus. There is often a unique path that we have followed to know Jesus, and it may look different for each of us.
Therefore, I have learned that we must respect the journey of our fellow human beings to find Jesus. I often see people trying to “manage” that journey for their partner, and this is typically a recipe for disaster. We need to respect the journey of our partner/spouse in that “God journey”, and also the journey of other people in general. Our challenge is to love people right where they are.
Prayer: Lord, help us to indeed others where they are in their faith journey, Amen
