17我们与周遭的人若没有正确的关系,就很难在垂直的一面与主有好的关系。原因是神圣的交通乃是唯一的交通。……我们许多人可能以为,每一天我们是照着垂直的一面开始这交通,接着才有平面的一面。然而,许多时候这不是我们的经历。因着我们大多数人都与配偶、家人或室友住在一起,所以我们的交通常常开始于平面的一面。我们若在晚上与妻子、丈夫或室友争吵,早上就很难开始与主有垂直的交通。我们必须维持垂直与平面两面的交通,才能在属灵上健康。
17If we do not have a proper relationship with those around us, it is difficult to have a good fellowship with the Lord vertically. The reason for this is that the divine fellowship is one fellowship…Most of us may think that we daily start this fellowship according to its vertical aspect, followed by its horizontal aspect. Most of the time, however, this is not our experience. Since most of us have spouses, other family members, or roommates living with us, our fellowship usually begins in a horizontal manner. If we have a quarrel with our wife, husband, or roommate in the evening, we will find it difficult to start our vertical fellowship with the Lord in the morning. We must maintain both the vertical and horizontal aspects of the fellowship in order to be healthy spiritually.