Romans 8:5-8 (ESV)
I just love those black and white conundrums. Either or, but not both. You either are or you aren’t. Don’t we all have some sin that we struggle with daily? It might be a big one or it might be a small one in our opinion, but aren’t they all the same in God’s sight. NO sin can He tolerate in His presence. And it is all a sin of the flesh. And aren’t we all more concerned with ourselves than with one another? Even those that we think should be better than that? And then aren’t we just supposed to worry about our own sin and not be critical of others. And here we are worrying about ourselves again instead of others? “If you’re not for us, then you’re against us.” If God is for us, who can be against us?
Are any of you like me and can argue any side? So you come off as undecided or wishy-washy? Or apologetic? Or weak?
“I know what you’re about. I know why you do what you do. I can even agree with what you are doing and even support it. On the other hand, in the position you are in, I think it is a bad idea. It provides a miscommunication. It can produce a lack of trust. It’s not good leadership. I like you and all, but find that we are stuck with you. If things were different… I cannot believe you could take this position knowing that you weren’t able to support one of its key components. Kind of like a janitor who refuses to clean the bathrooms. He/she shouldn’t have taken the job.”
Welcome to my mind…
My person of grievance today. I don’t even think I have a grievance against this person. They are not my favorite person. I do not dislike them. They are more than an acquaintance, but I wouldn’t call them a friend. I don’t work for them or with them. I suppose they work for me. Sometimes I like the job they do and sometimes I’m utterly disappointed. If I complain about something, they go into defensive mode. When I praise something it’s fine. They are in a position of authority and I probably allow them to be always right. That’s simply not possible. It is hard to be in a place where you are always wrong. And that’s not possible either. So perhaps I’m withholding out of self-preservation.
I used to go to this person when there was a problem and the situation always got turned back to me. As if the problem was in my court or was only from my own point of view. Even when there were others with my point of view. Often I was the only person willing to be vocal. I always felt like I was being psychologized and I abhor that. After all, I like to be right as well and the next person.
So I stopped talking.
I don’t think that is the answer.
I stopped initiating contact.
I don’t think that is the answer.
I don’t actually have to be in any kind of relationship with this person. I’ve disengaged. We all want to be pursued when we extract ourselves from the situation. We all want someone to care. Sometimes there are other more important things to deal with. How many other people are being hurt like myself simply because we don’t have a voice?
I cannot change how someone else thinks or goes about their business. But I can change the way I interact with people. Perhaps I’m upset with them because they remind me of myself… They always have to be right.
So I am going to focus on my own shortcomings. I am going to pray that “being right” isn’t what is most important to me. I am going to pray that I have the wisdom to keep silent and the discernment to know when I need to talk. And I will pray that I don’t disengage as a way to maintain control. I pray that I pray more.
For God so loved that world that He gave His one and only Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:16
John 3:16
It’s as simple as that. No need to make it more difficult.
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