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Rescue the sad?
Man-woman relationships begin for a variety of reasons, whether good or not-so-good. One reason is compassion. One person can be drawn to the other from at least some measure of normal attraction, but what really drives it emotionally is an instinct to try to help. I'm thinking of the case where the one toward whom you're moving is an unhappy person, and that's a lot of the reason why you're in motion. You want to make the person happy.
At a distance, many of us would understand that this is not likely to go well. When you're in the situation, though, facing a hurting person, and depending on your personality, you might get pulled in by feeling. You might really want to see this person doing better, and since you're attracted anyway, why not give it a try, for that person's sake? It may well happen that the person does seem to brighten up through your relationship and become happier. The question is, though, what happens in the long term? My guess is that such an individual seems temporarily happier because of the enjoyment of a new relationship but is likely to return to his or her original slump once that newness has worn off. The problem you saw initially hasn't really been resolved. In my opinion, it is invariably and ultimately a spiritual issue, whatever other factors may be in view. This person needs the healing that only God can give the soul.
As you perhaps have guessed, I'm writing from experience. What I tried did not succeed. Though I knew from the beginning that I certainly could not "fix" anyone, my mistake was proceeding in the way I did with an unhappy person, no matter how much I cared.
Despite compassion we might feel, it seems wisest to stay out of a romantic relationship with a person with a noticeable internal battle. We can be friends, and we can pray for that person, but romance is best not brought into the mix where spiritual healing is what is really needed.
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