Wednesday, February 27

Jeremiah 3:6-18

Psalms 72, 119:73-96

Romans 1:28-2:11
John 5:1-18

  Psalm 72:

May he defend the afflicted among the people

and save the children of the needy;

may he crush the oppressor.

Relationship is a gift that holds purpose.  God's original intention for us was that we accurately reflect his image by blessing one another.   Without relationship we simply miss the mark and yet, in relationship, I feel like I miss the mark each day.  I find myself burned, over looked, and mistreated.  Do others work toward blessing me?  Am I choosing to bless others?   Is it worth it?   The answer to all three is yes, but it's messy.

Conflict is hard whether it's between friends, family, co-workers, or strangers.  The urge I feel to be validated and justified when tension builds from disagreement is so strong that I often find myself shouting in defense or walking away in anger.  If I don't have anything nice to say, I shouldn't say anything at all, right?  Sort of.  The temptation is to view my opposite as the enemy and to choose only my “lens of life” as I wade through my emotions.  The problem with this is that my lens is so small that any choice I make alone about handling a situation only robs the other person and myself of the opportunity to see more of God's perspective.  Every person is afflicted, every person is a child of the needy, every person is oppressed.  God desires to break through each of these places...even in the midst of conflict.  He never said that this was an easy process but He did promise never to leave us.  The hard part is that pressing into relationship is messy but behind my sin and theirs are people - created souls who the Lord loves so much that He sacrificed His only son so that we may live.  The words that should be said (or not said) can be found as long as I'm choosing relationship with Jesus first.

Lord, in the midst of the pain in relationship, show me your perspective on my oppressors and in a tangible way bring life through me where the real enemy wishes to take it.

Heather Williams

Faculty, Holy Spirit Episcopal School