15145 - Relationships are the humans who are with you even when you are apart

N. Lygeros
Translated from the Greek by Athena Kehagias

There are books that have been written centuries ago and still affect us. We read them and we feel that they touch us. We are in this sequel of Humanity while we think that we are only affected by what is local, very close to us and beside us. The problem is that what is next to us is not always along with us, whereas what is far from us, though never next to us, can be along with us. Therefore, there is a difference between contacts and relationships. Education step by step teaches us that relationships – and not contacts – are significant. A relationship should consist of two elements. If you don’t have a dual relationship, then the relationship does not exist. There is only contact in this case. Relationships are the humans who are with you even when you are apart from them. They are a handful of people. Contacts are too many. Relationships are difficult. Contacts are easy. Contacts are easily lost. Relationships are difficult to lose. It is difficult to maintain good relationships as they require education; they require knowledge and sharing of knowledge; they require a coherence of thinking. Therefore, relationships are rare. But relationships are what characterize us. There is a saying: “Tell me who your father is and I can tell you who you are”. That is unfair. Actually, it would be better to say “Tell me what your relationships are, and I can tell you who you are”. Whereas if you mention your contacts, you would have no idea of who you are, because those having exactly the same contacts with you are numerous, but they are not you. Work requires knowledge and knowledge comes along with relationships. Whereas job requires contacts and has no need of knowledge; it requires connections only.