All of our relationships, in particular the one we have with those we love, exist for a dual purpose, along with its great promise: first, most of us understand that our partner in life is there to help us grow, to awaken and stir in us, accordingly, an awareness of love's highest possibilities. But the other -- and equally important half of this same purpose and promise -- without which the first part can't succeed -- is as follows: our partner in life is also there to help us see everything in us that now stands in the way of our coming to realize this same higher love.