The highest pleasure and sense of satisfaction known to man is when two people come together to experience a moment of ecstasy, a moment of life. Like the musical note that stands alone, the acts of an individual cannot produce the melodious medley of life. Just as music is created when an individual note is placed in relationships to other notes, the joy of living only occurs as an individual moves into harmonious interaction with others sharing the same moment of time.

Everyone can experience the joy of living, but few ever mature to live consistently the good life. Relationships evolve around three key ingredients: pleasure, utility, and love. Although all relationships are initially experienced for pleasure (the participants receive pleasure out of the interaction) and utility (the participants are using each other for some cause), the good life does not occur unless the relationship moves into the mystery of love.

The most basic interaction of man towards another is one of pleasure. A relationship or friendship will exist when the participants are receiving pleasure out of the interaction. If it feels good, we are willing to interact.

Obviously, this relationship is stable only as long as gratification is being received by both individuals. If someone else comes along and this new person is perceived to be more pleasurable, the relationship between the original two becomes fragile. When pleasure is no longer being experienced by either of the participants, this basic relationship will end.

Relationships can also be friendships of utility. Two may enter into a relationship because each person can be of use to the other. They both are receiving some sort of satisfaction of needs being met from the affiliation. If a service is provided, we are willing to enter into a relationship.

The relationship of utility is also anemic. When one determines that the other is no longer useful, the interaction becomes tedious. If someone else is perceived to be of more use, the fervency of the original relationship will also weaken. It will also end, if it is perceived that the relationship is no longer of value by one or both of the participants.

Finally, there is the relationship of love. Beyond the limits of personal pleasure and personal usefulness, this interaction thrives upon making sure the needs of others are not neglected. Since all that one has in life has been given to him, these generously given gifts must be generously shared. Love is always kind and longsuffering towards others.

Love never seeks its own. Restraints against personal gain are always exercised when it comes to the scheme of experiencing life. The loving person never puts himself first, never claims his own share of things when it would deprive the needs of others. It is the enhancement of others at one’s own expense.

Although all natural relationships are entered into so that the individual can enhance his own self, the relationship of love exists solely for the enhancement of the other. It "beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things" (1 Cor. 13:7) in the interaction of its participants. It is when the well-being and soul satisfaction of another is as important as your own. Love is the anchor of all long-term relationships.

Pure, unadulterated love can be experienced by all men. The death, resurrection, ascension, and return of Jesus Christ provide the desire and the power to love others as it was meant to be. The coming of Jesus Christ into this world to be taken to His death for others is not only an example of love it is also the means by which all men can experience the same supernatural relationship of love.