For your consideration….
Hmmm…we seem to have a lot of messages around this subject lately. That in itself should tell us something. What are you observing? Why do you think this is so?
Plato said, “Opinion is the medium between knowledge and ignorance.” We are not God. We are his children learning as we grow. We can have opinions based on what we know so far but it is important to remember that they are our opinions. Others may have another.
Before we ruin friendships, potential friendships, alliances etc. we are asked today to ask a few questions. You know, the proverbial think before you speak. We may want to ask ourselves, “Is it true?” Are we absolutely certain it is true or is it our opinion based on where we are in our life right now? Does it matter? Does it really matter that we do not agree? Is harm going to come if we don’t? Do I really need to jump into the hoopla and join the fray? Is it necessary? What good comes from it?
“ALWAYS remember, we all have our own opinions and beliefs.
We have different ways of dealing with life’s troubles and joys.
To survive our differences without hurting one another is what GOODNESS is about.”
…..Dodinsky
We had the prayer of Jabez as a message recently. Remember the line, “Be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain?” Is our opinion worth causing harm? How does it feel to be disrespected? Show we in turn disrespect another?
The rhetoric, the shouting at one another, the experts dictating are too much. Once again we are asked to ask ourselves some questions before we unleash our tongue. Do we want to be part of the problem or the solution? What example do we want to set? Where is the path to growth, maturity, wisdom, joy, faith, HOPE, and love?
The freedom is not always in the unleashing of our opinion. Sometimes it is in the strength of silence.
That is the HOPE. And so it is.
Bit by bit, piece by piece, HOPE by HOPE action steps anyone can take…..
-Meditate/pray…ask…”What is my next step for my highest good and the highest good of all?”
-Drink lots of water.
-Get outdoors and take in at least 10 deep breaths.
-Pause and ask ourselves some questions before we let our opinions roll off of our tongue.
What made me smile yesterday…..
-A chill morning.
-Meeting my beloved niece, Kerri, for lunch…just the two of us….a rare blessing.
-Dinner in Manchester with, Jody, Bob, Dianne, Gary and Bruce and I…..another rare event that does not happen enough.
-Ending the evening sitting outside chilling with Jody.
-A moon that lit up my room for a good part of the night.
Love, Blessings and Gratitude,
Rev. Chris
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