Within the Christian tradition, followers of Jesus have traditionally claimed to have a personal and intelligible relationship with God. They seek to develop this relationship and get to know their God more closely , which they consider pleasant and accessible. To develop this relationship, Christians have sought for thousands of years to recognize the correct course of daily action to live a life pleasing to God. Part of this correct course of action is avoiding the traps of the material world that hinder our relationship with God. Donald Miller, author of Blue Like Jazz, considers living places without people to foster growth as one of the greatest barriers to overcome and Thomas Merton adds the inability to fully welcome vocations and make decisions as an obstacle to overcome before enjoying the fullness of an uninhibited relationship with God. Donald Miller believes that human beings are social creatures who cannot thrive if they are continually isolated from the rest of society. Miller states that the inner soul of human beings not only craves interaction but cannot even survive without it. The reason for this according to Miller is simply because God designed us this way. Why is it so important for us to maintain healthy social relationships? The first key benefit of social relationships is that they ensure that we maintain a close understanding of reality and what is and is not accepted in the society around us. Miller recalls a time when he was so persistently lonely that he began inventing imaginary friends to interact with because his soul craved social contact so much. If people lose track of this social reality, they become unable to interact efficiently and effectively with their peers. This becomes a problem if, as Miller believes, loving your fellow man is a little slice of heaven (173). Living alone consistently is also a problem because it prevents you from living and participating in the community..