Bringing New Life in Relationships

Last week the wind split one of my favorite trees in half. It was a beautiful, ginormous, 100-year-old oak tree that was green and leafy and shady. Now the good news is that the owner of the property it was on is planting a new tree. He said it will take time and nurture, but eventually there will be another beautiful tree in its place. 

Last night Brad talked about relationships in our lives that are damaged by the inevitable conflict that comes from doing life together. Sometimes well-meaning people have differing perspectives and even with our best efforts at understanding each other and trying to respond as Jesus would, wounds occur. The relationship as it once was may be gone, but there is always the potential for redeeming the pain and nurturing new life. 

I have several relationships in my life that are like this. Last week I got a note that meant a lot to me from one of them. She referred to a special memory we shared and said she missed me. Her note was like water on the thirsty ground around a new seedling. Our friendship has been through some rough times and we’ve worked hard to listen and understand each other’s perspective. We’re both trying hard to gently care for the fragile renewed life that’s there. Have you experienced new life in a damaged relationship? Is there a damaged relationship that comes to mind that could use an apology or some life-nurturing words from you?

Laura Crosby serves as the Director of Spiritual Formation at The Table

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