Some of the most productive conversations I have ever had in my life were about things I didn’t really want to talk about. Some of the hardest conversations I have ever had, ended up resulting in tremendous healing, closure, restoration, and, ultimately, peace. There were conversations that I avoided having with loved ones in my life for a very long time, because I didn’t want to have another battle over who was right or who was wrong, or whose hurts were more severe, all the while stirring up all the past hurts all over again. So my goal??? Avoid those tender topics like the plague! One day, though, the right and wrong mentality dissolved, and instead of pinning each other’s wrongs upon one other for display, we sought out having an understanding of each other’s positions, perspectives, and hurts.
The moment everyone involved began to seek after understanding, both sides realized that everyone was hurting; just for different reasons and in different ways. The time that we finally took to sit down at the round table, no longer avoiding the issues, allowed us to look one another in the eyes and realize that there was a strong love that was still alive, there were voids that needed to be filled in all of us, and there was a true healing that needed to take place by way of a restored relationship with one another. The fact is, when something breaks, all the pieces that are involved are broken and bare jagged edges. It’s simply the result of brokenness that is felt by everyone involved, and ignoring one another’s brokenness and hurt gets you nowhere.
In our nation today, I look around and I see tremendous brokenness. I see a nation of people who want to take a side and “die on their hill” so to speak. I see groups of people that have their long lists of wrongs that they want to pin upon the other side for display. But where does any of those actions get us? What does that produce, other than more brokenness and division? I think that it’s our time for us to take a seat at the round table, look each other in the eye, and really listen to one another and gain a perspective that is not our own. There are many voids that need to be filled and hearts that need mending. The impossible can become possible when we strive to have the conversations that we may not want to have. BUT, once these conversations begin, you will realize they are not that bad to be had, and can end up resulting in great healing, closure, restoration, and ultimately, peace!
Proverbs 3:13-18
Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
and the one who gets understanding,
for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
those who hold her fast are called BLESSED.
Highlighting the hope that we have in Christ! 