Partnership

Questions about human relationships are, besides questions concerning health, the most frequent ones. They are in principle, inexhaustible topics, discussed whenever people gather together. Either when people meet in a larger collective, or face to face during an individual conversation. A desire to understand each other and a need for human contact is within each of us. Love is then the virtue that accompanies us along this ‘Searching Journey’.

Among men lingers one very deeply rooted misconception, that once we meet our companion, possibly resulting in subsequent marriage, we have acquired a life-long partner.

I know this term – partner – is routinely used. Therefore, lately, when I am meeting with people during discussions, I am purposely again and again initiating the topic of partnership. So that, when those present, actually focus on what I am saying, I can repeatedly and clearly explain that we can only become true partners with time. After all, we hardly know each other when we meet for the first time. By saying that, I am not categorically excluding the possibility that in unique cases, two souls may meet, two people, who, from the very beginning understand each other without words. Nevertheless, even then, their long-term coexistence will only remain valid while living under certain conditions.

I am at a ripe old age and I can say without blushing, that I have behind me already a row of life experiences. As a result of my experiences I obtained inner maturity. Deep faith has been my virtue, thanks to which I brought myself to the state of realization of what is most important in life. In what way is it possible to set down our life’s priority, so that we can painlessly, with a smile on our lips and with a warm sensation in our mystical hearts, in our souls, go through our individual life experiences? Today, I already know and I want to share what I have learned.

To respect other human beings means to understand the principle of the ‘Gift of Life’.

At the same time, I know how difficult it is for many of us to comprehend the meaning of this sentence. To submerge into its depth like into the pool of ‘Divine Truth’. For an individual living in his limited time, this task may seem even unsolvable. But we should realize the most essential – the insolvability always merely seems. Divine truth never had, hasn’t and never will have validity only for a selectively chosen group of people. Nobody is forgotten and nobody is neglected. We should never allow ourselves even a trace of doubt that we are fetched up in a maze, from which there is no way out. I can, however, understand the thought waves of a human being, put myself into his state of mind and see his doubt, when he himself, and I emphasize, that only himself and by his own actions, he prepares the events that happen in his life. He alone, not with the background of Divine intervention and as a result feels as if he has been neglected and forgotten.

Second after second we are living the unrepeatable magic of the ‘Gift of Life’.

Allow continually ourselves over and over again the priceless luxury of an experience, whereby we can give through us to every such moment a hallmark of respect for the ‘Gift of Life. Repeatedly keep allowing ourselves to enrich our lives by learning through our closest companion. Here within, we are coming closer to a well-balanced life. Let’s give ourselves a possibility to breathe freely. Respect and honor a human being without subservience and obsequiousness. Respect his freedom, his qualities and his choice to go on through life in his own way, even when some of his path is filled with sorrow. I know of no purer choice and more direct way towards our companion, than through the journey into his heart. At the same time, insist that he respects your own freedom and your choice to go on with your life in your own way. In that way, with determination, with the necessary level of tolerance, but not with concessions, we, as creative beings, find our way to each other. We all have this possibility. By mutual respect we are educating ourselves towards a joint partnership. Yes, there is a sporadic possibility to come across a partner, but in the absolute majority of cases, we have to work hard towards our partnership, mutually educating one another. We are all different. Dissimilarities can divide us, but we can also take advantage of them in a creative way. This choice is only ours.

I am talking about gradually approaching one another, about slow submerging into the feelings and thoughts of a human being who is close to us, whom we would like to regard as a permanent partner. But we should never assume that we know everything about our nearest companion, that we know him through and through. Remember, before you met him, as he is now, you both had to exert a certain amount of effort to get to the present level of your individual development. Acknowledge the same wish and desire in your partner. After all, he could also have come a long way in his own development. Don’t become self-satisfied or rigid; development never ends. Self-contentment, a gained feeling of security, that there is nothing else to learn about one another simply leads to an abyss. Everyday, even the most ordinary one, is bringing us a row of impulses, by which we can not only sweeten, but primarily enrich each others’ lives. We shouldn’t overlook these special opportunities. We have to exert large amounts of energy in order to grow closer. Therefore, don’t let a false sense of security that everything was already accomplishment, to cause that you become estranged. Just always remember the hopes and visions you were building step by step together up until the present. Each and every one of us is living his dream after all. And now, when the dream has been realized, even if only partially, we simply allow it to vanish between our hands? Let’s live in such a way that this last question remains rhetorical.

Don’t forget something else, the restoration of what has been lost in a relationship, requires more energy. A new foundation must be laid. The old must be done away with, the demolition of which demands lots of will, energy and time. After all, we don’t have to go on making mistakes and errors; we have the possibility to utilize the experience and wisdom of our ancestors.

Jan Konfršt