Togethering Somethings

For some reason, I've taken five classes on statistics in one form or another.  There's few reasons someone should take five statistics classes, and there are even fewer reasons for a person as terrible at math as me to take five statistics classes.  Nevertheless, I have taken them, and if I've learned anything, it's that variables can be very significant (I am so sorry for that joke).

You can do a few things with data from a single variable, but you can do a whole plethora of interesting things with the data from two or more variables.  When analyzing two variables, something interesting happens.  Data from one or both variables can be significant, but the interaction between these two variables can also be significant, even if the two variables themselves are not.

You may not care about statistics at all, which is most likely justified, but they show us all kinds of information about relationships.  Namely, that when two somethings act in conjunction, stuff happens.

In fact, I'd go so far as to say that without a relationship, nothing happens.  Everything in the whole world is happening because two or more somethings are coming together to make it happen.  Without relationship, there is no movement.

This means that when entering into a relationship (of any kind) with another person, the interaction between the two moves both individuals.  Relationships cause interaction, and interaction causes movement.  That's why, in a counseling relationship, technique accounts for only fifteen percent of positive change, while the relationship itself accounts for eight-five percent. There's power in coming together.

This relational principle is the same reason God chooses to make relationship with a group of people on earth.  In the tenth chapter of the book of Deuteronomy, Moses urges the people of Israel to dedicate their hearts to the God who has freed and restored those in relationship with Him.  When people and God come together, miracles happen, the captives are set free, and there's jubilee.

Relationship has always been the vehicle through which God has moved.  As I said last time, what we form relationships with has the power to harm us or heal us.  When you join with something, movement occurs.  Are your relationships taking you where you want to go?