We have seen allies at work, usually during times of war. Far less frequently we talk about the relationship between countries in terms of sharing common goals, approaches, or a view on a particular issue. I find myself reacting to the word as a singular event, not something that lasts forever. I am allied with a person, company, or a cause for a period of time, then it passes and I return to standing alone, battling the odds.
Ideally a long term marriage relationship is one where the two are allies. The capabilities of two or more are far greater than the singular sum of individuals. Yet, in too many cases, those involved in relationship find themselves at odds, fighting within as intensely as any effort expended against without. There are cases where allies remain trusted friends through decades. Part of their secret is a willingness to trust that the other will take care of what normally would be dealt with individually. This trust frees the relationship and leverages the skills, competencies, and strengths of the one for the benefit of both. The heart and soul of this process is experiential trust.
In the work and political arena allied relationships are much harder to establish or maintain. The reality is that we see life differently and respond in even more varied ways. The ability to trust another in this environment needs to transcend evidence. It requires faith based on the character of the parties involved. Otherwise it will, in time, to fail.
I wonder “who” we trust in the harsh reality of life today. When everything is stripped away do we really and truly trust God as our friend, father, and ally? His promise is simple and direct. “I'll head off the final enemy coming out of the north and dump them in a wasteland. Half of them will end up in the Dead Sea, the other half in the Mediterranean. There they'll rot, a stench to high heaven. The bigger the enemy, the stronger the stench!” (Joel 2.20)
The question remains. Is Divinity my ally?
