The story...
I arrived late to my son's baseball game and merged into the crowd to see my son walking up to the plate. I yell out some "remember to..." encouragement and he turns in my direction and asks "what did you say?" The audience looks at me and I sat embarrassed. I knew then that my behavior was wrong and didn't forget the incident. It helped me see a problem but didn't reveal the cause.
Much of my life has been spent repeatedly attempting to convey and convince others of my further understanding on any topic of interest to me. I may've justified this demeaning behavior as a means for "helping" others and refining my thoughts by testing and defending them. In reality, I inhibited relationships, other people's growth, and my own growth too. Most importantly, the behavior restrained life-giving relationships.
For me, a better way has been to work out a sincere interest in people as they are and where they are. Why am I surprised that people, whom I take a sincere interest in, seem to become more sincerely interested in me too? Close friendships are now part of my definition of the "good" life - I don't want to work my way through life without them.
The only church in town will likely have a preacher who will frequently speak to the full congregation. I hope that the messages would be centered around who we are in Christ and less about what we should, or oughta, be thinking or doing.
Just for today...
"What are the attitudes and behaviors that may have served me (or at least gave the illusion of serving me) in the past but now limit my capacity to experience joy and fulfillment? What are the resentments that keep me in bondage to the past?" Hope for Today (p. 167)
"I will not add to the problem by using cruel, clever words to humiliate a fellow human being. In doing so, I would be shaming myself." Courage to Change (p. 167)
"They seem odd; What'd I do? - Probably me; Maybe you."
"Again I'm wrong; Why'd I guess? - Skeptic view; Let it rest." Am I a Poet?
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