Relationships, not rules—that's what truly matters. Audrey Hepburn once said, "The best thing to hold onto in life is each other," there's such wisdom in that simple statement. How often do we search for the perfect way to live, hoping for a secret formula to finally give us a smooth, happy life? We spend billions on solutions, everything from shrinking our waistlines and decluttering our homes to improving our relationships. We scroll through Pinterest for hours, saving ideas that promise a flawless life. Bookstores are lined with titles that guarantee effortless paths to happiness and holiness, as though life could be solved like a math problem: follow steps A, B, and C, and voilà—a perfect life!
Sometimes, it feels like formulas might work. We follow a set of rules, and for a while, things go smoothly. But life isn't predictable, especially when other people are involved. As much as we crave order and control, no foolproof method or set of instructions will work every time. Life isn't that neat or predictable.
This constant search for the perfect solution often distracts us from the lives we're actually living. It tempts us with the illusion that if we try hard enough or find the right approach, we can reach a place where everything finally falls into place. It's a subtle lie that suggests people are like numbers in an equation. Everything will be balanced and predictable if we can plug them in correctly. But life doesn't work that way. Then, those illusions of control shatter when life throws in unthinkable twists—a tragic loss, a broken relationship, an unexpected hardship.
Losing a child is one of those experiences that changes everything. It tears away any lingering notion that life can be neatly managed with rules. It reminds us that life is unpredictable and that, sometimes, no rule or routine will shield us from pain. There's no shortcut, simple answer, or perfect formula to navigate life's deepest heartbreaks or biggest questions. Life isn't about rules; it's about relationships. Relationships with God, with others, and with ourselves. These connections don't follow a formula; they're built in the messy, uncertain spaces where real, vulnerable connection happens.
So, here's what I want to encourage you to do, inspired by Ephesians 4:2-3:
Move forward with humility, consistency, and love. Be alert to differences, but when misunderstandings arise, mend them quickly. Life is best when we hold onto each other and navigate its ups and downs together. It's messy and unpredictable, but that's where the real beauty is.
Let's let go of our need for perfect solutions and embrace the journey, leaning on each other and God. In those relationships—those connections that don't follow a neat formula—we find the richness of life. We learn that holding onto each other, especially through complex and uncertain times, is what truly matters.