Relationship Goal

       Relationship comes with trust. It is when partners usually consider this as the foundation of commitment. However, in the journey together, there might be times one will fall from sin and able to regain trust and save relationship through reconciliation. The broken jar is not the same jar when you assemble it, also to the trust one has established.

            My friend had his girlfriend who seemed to be so critical of his schedules and company that she needs to know it in details, every detail we should say (harsh!). If my friend went to go out with us, he usually took photos of each of us (so we took a pose as if it was candid), what food he ate, the status for every five minutes and even having a video call during our night out (Prior to that she allowed him to come with us, we don't what happened after that). I really adored the patience of that brother. But on the other side, I felt disturbed on how he reacts when he did that with us around. According to him, there were times he needs to take photos with electric fan, rice cooker and even his wet clothes while he had the laundry (really fantastic!). Still at times, she's not convinced. OMG! He said that he is doing that for his girlfriend to really believe what he is doing. Seeing is believing, he added. He is amenable that he fell from darkness before but he is convinced that he is true and in the right at the present. Also, he believes that his past will not totally define who he is in the present. Out of pure love, he wanted to prove to his girlfriend that no matter what, he wants to pursue her. Though at times, he underlines that his girlfriend is historical and hysterical in nature (probably true).

       From that story of a friend, I used to really think of how believing comes to an end with trust and so with faith. Is it truly to say that to see is to believe? How this works in reality? And how about those cannot see or perceive by our senses? Can we question that of their existence? Or can we consider as part of whole reality? Whatever personal belief it is, it can form a strong foundation of what to believe and why to believe. Knowing on what to believe really matters. It is difficult to convince ourselves without knowing such. Knowing requires us to understand not just giving superficial description of perceived reality but more so on relating ourselves to it.

       Looking backward when I took up my Philosophy, I encountered this one of the most interesting people in the history of the church, St. Augustine of Hippo. Seemingly, his writings and works on faith and reason contribute to Christianity as what it is today. In his “The City of God”, I found it very hard to fathom but still amazed the grandiose view of the eternal struggle between good and evil. The most interesting part I have learned from him is his dictum that "Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe". This struck me every time I am in doubt and in uncertainties. In Hebrews 11:1, it was supported this proposition saying that "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Faith here is not just a mere faith to anything but the Faith with respect, reverence and awe to Jesus Christ.

       As of now, my friend and his girlfriend took a break and prayerfully tried to work on their trust issues. Before going further, they wanted to settle concerning their trust, commitment and faith.  They look forward to hold on that trust not by mere perception but of believing things beyond the eyes can see for the reward would be strong foundation of their relationship. In the same way, the reward of faith is to see what you believe, and we believe in eternal life in Jesus Christ.