Covenant
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"CO-VENANT" means two or more people coming together. They're not forced to meet: they've decided to do that, perhaps even committed to it and maybe for more than a short time. It's usually because they want to achieve something which they can't do alone. It's collaborative.
"CON-TRACT" means two or more people pulling apart from each other. Or they could each be pulling what they can out of a situation, maybe to the disadvantage of the other(s). Again, there's no particular duration implied and it could last for an extended period, though it sounds more tiring! You learning to drive, from a teacher, is a mixture of both. There's a contract because we each need to know what to expect for our time or money or behaviour. But it's also a covenant because it's not just a business transaction: it's an enduring journey, together, from a state of perhaps feeling anxious or inept to a faithful confidence that you can meet unseen challenges after I've gone. (But please don't think of me as The Great I Am ... I'm not Yahweh or Allah!) In that sense, it's a covenantial relationship more than a contractual one: a promise of commitment from me to "keep your spirits up" and equip you with ability and self-belief for life's road ahead. And a promise by you to work with me toward your long-term goal. |
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