Water Logic the Motion of Relationships

It is fascinating to me how intimidating water can be. Sixty percent of the human body is made up of it and seventy percent of the earth is covered by it. All the same, most of us find moments where we are shaken by water or stand and watch it in awe. When starting swimming lessons most splash around the steps, but only in rare occasions does someone jump right in. With instruction and practice they begin to venture out. Thrashing and splashing so that everyone around gets soaked. Still tense they struggle to hold their face high out of the water. As they practice and get more specific instruction their motion becomes more fluid and they begin to relax. A rhythm and pattern replace the frantic slapping of the water’s surface. Soon they are propelling themselves rapidly across the surface. With enough time and practice, beauty will replace the splashing about.

Colossians 3:14 “And above all these put on Love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony”.

Like that student learning to swim, marriages can be quite similar. When we are first married, we splash around and have a lot of fun. Laughing and carrying on, but not getting down to the real work. Depending on a lot of factors we all jump in to the real relationship at different times. The honeymoon is over and we find we need to work through the details. We begin to train and learn how to navigate our marriage the same way as learning to swim. When we work together we find that rhythm together as with swimming. Relationships take practice and training just like an athlete in the water. Depending on how well you want to perform will dictate how much you do. Self teaching will only carry your marriage so far. A self taught swimmer never goes to the Olympics. You need coaching in order to improve. Coaches can include parents, pastors, friends and counselors. Do not be afraid to ask for help in order to improve your relationship.

There are many tools to learn from: observing examples, seminars, books, even specific verbal instruction. You need to talk to your spouse and set a plan. Relationships are like water. They shift and flow with surrounding pressures. This constant change can become very stressful if you do not learn to balance the emotions within it.

Understand also that sometimes you have to play. Just like the athlete that takes the time to splash with their friends in the water. Enjoy each other for the simple joy it is to be together. The athlete does not work out every day simply for the prize. They also invest in the time for the love of the sport.
Not everything has to be about perfecting your stroke or excelling beyond everyone else. Some of it is simply for the experience.

Work together because you value and respect each other.