Made for Relationship

Intentional Design

“Simply Life” by Myra Alibrando

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Nothing Living, Lives Alone

There is inspiration and also a certain clarity about so many things that nature itself communicates. One is that all life, with no exceptions, does not live isolated from other life.

In 2005 “Nature Never Stops Talking” in U.S., then in 2013 “Nature Is Always Talking” was published in the Philippines. This is because nature was teaching me so many things.

"But ask the beasts, and they will teach you;
the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;
or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you;
and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?" Job 12:7-10

Every cell relates to other cells. They literally communicate. Every cell, no exceptions. There is neither bird, nor insect, nor plant, nor animal that is not communicating with its own species and as we have seen online, videos of interspecies friendships.

The relationship that millions have with their animals is undeniable bonding.

Wordless Communication

I find it fascinating th many ways communication occurs without words such as ants leaving pheronome (chemical) trails with instructions, or a male peacock expanding his dazzling plumage of feathers to attract females. Male birds can declare territory with their songs. Male cats of all sizes establish territory by squirting their scents. All of these signals are universally understood within the species about what means what.

Communication = Relationship

Communication does not imply relationship, it proves it. Communication is a sender and receiver and for communication to actually occur, the receiver must understand the communication and the sender must be communicating intentionally.

Flowers use colors and odors to attract insects, birds, flies, or other pollinators. Their very continued existence depends on that communication.

Relationships without Communication

While the chlorophyll in leaves do not communicate with the sun, the green chlorophyll intelligently utilizes the rays of the sun in a life-dependent manner. This is a relationship with a sun that does not benefit from the trees but worldwide, all the plants in the world benefit from the sun.

God Wants Us Communicating in Relationship

I want to point to the Designer of communication. The inventor of not only instincts between animals but the extreme delicacy of nuance in human communication. We know tone of voice can change the meaning of the same words.

We know sarcasm. We know when a sentence is said with giggling, its interpretation is known by the context, the facial expressions, and the person's character.

Anatomical Evidence Especially in Humans

Even our anatomy seems to reveal the importance of communication. Our face has 20 muscles. It is 43 muscles if categorized differently. The point is, a smile is universal. An angry look is universal. But in families we read so many subtle undertones in a face. Eyebrows, forehead, and so much around the eyes in addition to the mouth. Even our eye pupils can reveal boredom or great interest.

Below the neck, there are no muscles that pull skin to show emotion, but compacted in the small space of the front of our head, God has given so much to add to our body language, tone of voice, and words. Surprise, joy, fear, sadness, worry, confusion, concentration, and more, each having a face.

What a shame that we can lie with our words and our face. But what a marvel, that God has given faces to those whom we love dearly. So many joys from their face to our seeing eyes that he also formed.

"For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well." Psalm 139:13-14

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