Relationships

     It is the start of the new fall programming year which means that with the narrative lectionary, a resource used to help congregations move through the stories of the Bible, we are now back in the book of Genesis.  Some fun facts about this book of the Bible is that Genesis is the first book of the Bible; some scholars say that Moses was the one who wrote Genesis when the Israelites were wandering through the wilderness; and Gensis' name comes from the first two words of the opening sentence of the book.  Genesis is about human's first relationships with God and with each other.  What we learn in chapter 2 is that the intitial word to describe our relationship with God is trust.  God trusted Adam to work in Eden.  God didn't tell Adam how to do his job just what the parameters were and then God left him alone to do it.  Adam trusted God had his best interests at heart and God trusted Adam to do the right thing.  When God saw that Adam needed help God created a helper, a woman made from Adam's rib bone.  They were equals and partners.  So God vision for our relationships with each other is about trust and for partnership.  How does that look in your life?  Is your spouse really a partner in your relationship or are they not?  How does that make you feel if they are not?  
     Another hard question to ponder is what does it mean to trust God in your life?  I know for me it is a continual challenge because I want so much control.  Trusting is giving up this control to follow where God leads, which I know for myself was a very scary thing.  Why does this feel scary though?  Is it because it is easier to say we trust God then to put it into action?
      As important as it is to raise these questions it is more important to put them into action.  So this week what can you do to show your partnership in one of your relationships?  How can you talk to your spouse, or friend, or family member about how your relationship could get better?  What would it be to trust God this week in your life?  What would be different?