I can look at how my day went with two separate points of view. I could say that after all God has been revealing to me in these past few days in regards to how I need to practice minding my own business and not looking at how other people are living, or what they are achieving, or caring about how they might perceive me that He gave me many opportunities to be tested today.
OR
I could say that with all that has been learned, as listed above, that maybe everything is as always would have been but I’m now choosing to react differently due to a growth in wisdom and understanding.
Regardless which way I choose to look at it I did make the effort to look at the world through different lens’. In doing this I found myself becoming much more empathetic when having a conversation with someone whereas before I might have been put off by their behavior or situation.
I even made the effort to reach out to an old high school friend that I haven’t spoken to in a few years. We haven’t spoken for my lack of desire…we had one time been very good friends and the last we had a decent conversation was about 5 years ago at a reunion. About then I was thick in youth ministry and we ended up in a conversation about religion and faith in general. We’d already established before this final talk that we didn’t necessarily see eye to eye on politics so I think having a ‘faith discussion’ was more or less a nail in the coffin to our friendship. This made me sad as I felt that despite my attempt to not judge her opinions that I was being unfairly judged for mine. I never bothered to look through her viewpoint to see how I might make her feel uncomfortable just by not standing on the same ‘ground’.
Despite our differences I miss her friendship. So I reached out. Olive branches even extend through Facebook! 😉 Not that we’ll pick up where we left off but I do believe when we see each other again that we can at least reminisce and be supportive of one another where we are now.
The day was filled with interesting conversations with people and though I’ve always been very aware of other people’s vantage points (especially teens!!) I felt that much more love for those around me because we are sometimes held hostage by our feelings/emotions.
I offer advice, give out scripture readings, tell them about My Daily Bread, etc but ultimately I know that this is their journey and it is not my business!
😉
Blessings
Shannon