h create obstacles to closeness. In the presence of the former, anger and judgment of one toward another can go on for years, even for a lifetime, while in the presence of the latter, we can drift so far apart from members Relationships that are inherited often feel like they are not chosen. Some are peaceful and loving, but many are embattled or difficult in other ways. Sometimes the reasons for creating distance seem more compelling than the reasons for creating love, yet in all cases it is of benefit to the heart and soul to create a path of return to love.

For example, there are times when members of a family become engaged in long-standing disputes with each other with ongoing feelings of tension, irritability, and judgment that take on a life of their own. This can result in a stand-off over many years in which others are tolerated, but not with a great deal of good-will. There are also times when something much quieter and more subtle takes place which creates distance between oneself and others. Often the reasons are unclear, but may appear to have to do with differences in values which create obstacles to closeness. In the presence of the former, anger and judgment of one toward another can go on for years, even for a lifetime, while in the presence of the latter, we can drift so far apart from members o

he reasons for creating love, yet in all cases it is of benefit to the heart and soul to create a path of return to love.

For example, there are times when members of a family become engaged in long-standing disputes with each other with ongoing feelings of tension, irritability, and judgment that take on a life of their own. This can result in a stand-off over many years in which others are tolerated, but not with a great deal of good-will. There are also times when something much quieter and more subtle takes place which creates distance between oneself and others. Often the reasons are unclear, but may appear to have to do with differences in values which create obstacles to closeness. In the presence of the former, anger and judgment of one toward another can go on for years, even for a lifetime, while in the presence of the latter, we can drift so far apart from members

th each other with ongoing feelings of tension, irritability, and judgment that take on a life of their own. This can result in a stand-off over many years in which others are tolerated, but not with a great deal of good-will. There are also times when something much quieter and more subtle takes place which creates distance between oneself and others. Often the reasons are unclear, but may appear to have to do with differences in values which create obstacles to closeness. In the presence of the former, anger and judgment of one toward another can go on for years, even for a lifetime, while in the presence of the latter, we can drift so far apart from members ll. There are also times when something much quieter and more subtle takes place which creates distance between oneself and others. Often the reasons are unclear, but may appear to have to do with differences in values which create obstacles to closeness. In the presence of the former, anger and judgment of one toward another can go on for years, even for a lifetime, while in the presence of the latter, we can drift so far apart from members h create obstacles to closeness. In the presence of the former, anger and judgment of one toward another can go on for years, even for a lifetime, while in the presence of the latter, we can drift so far apart from members of our family that the original reason for doing so is lost in a haze of indifference and neglect. Then, a bridge must be created to span the chasm that has developed between us and those whom we are related to, not only biologically but spiritually as well.

The need to build a bridge to others who seem lost to us or separated from us is a need of a spiritual kind, for it involves acknowledging the inner nature of the relationship between ourselves and our parents, ourselves and our children, ourselves and siblings. These relationships have all been chosen on a soul-level in order to establish themes of meaning in our passage through life, and the sense of their importance must apply even to relationships that appear confusing, misplaced, or lacking in love, as well as to those that seem gracious and light-filled. Generally, the challenges presented to us by relationships that