January 12, 2011
Poking Pins
My normal battle ground for fighting with an enemy is when I’m trying to get to sleep. I know I should focus on loving them, but that’s hard to do when I’m poking them with pins by replaying conversations, questioning their motivations and designing a plan of defense. Jesus taught, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” (Matt5:43-44 NIV) In a quirky way it’s a relief to know were not expected to live an enemy-free life.
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Gail;
-----It is also a relief to know that replaying conversations, questioning motives, or designing plans of defense are not in themselves evil. If we had not been created as individuals all our minds would be interconnected as are the Borg‘s. Being individuals, we have responsibilities towards our selves as well as towards others. Righteousness does not pare away from us those responsibilities towards the self. It only requires them to be met with justice and mercy however they effect others. That is what makes for peace, and well maintained peace makes for joy.
-----Conversation is one of the intersections where individuals with their responsibilities meet. Things said are useful clues about how responsible each one in the conversation is being towards the other, and about what different things mean to them. Replaying a conversation to gain insight from these clues is never wrong when the goal is to reach a just or merciful understanding. Of course, it is wrong when the intention is to merely enflame the emotional passions of the enemy-hood. Motivations are tied to ambitions, and we all know they may or may not be good. Whether in you or the other person, motives irresponsible to justice or mercy are damaging. Questioning your own motives is the first step to loving anyone, including your enemies and yourself. Responsibly questioning the other person’s motives is important for assessing your vulnerability in the relationship. And where vulnerability has been found, out of simple responsibility towards yourself, you must prepare a line of defense which protects you without harming the other. Rightly putting that line of defense up may require more conversation; stuff is complex. As long as we are being right in that intersection of conversation, we are loving. So as long as we are being right in our replaying, questioning, and designing, we are being loving.
-----In fact, we who know the Lord are all players in His Father’s kingdom coming. It isn’t that we make the whole kingdom come; it is that a part of His kingdom comes through our interactions with others. Paul said the kingdom of heaven is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit rather than food and drink. (Rom 14:17) So if we are better able to work our own understanding into the justice or mercy of doing right by replaying, questioning, and designing, and by so doing, are better able to encourage our enemy to do the same, the resulting righteousness will enable peace and create joy in yourself, certainly, and in your enemy, hopefully.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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