i had a realization today that probably should have occurred years ago. i am way too confrontational about things that don’t really matter. part of this is the fact that i usually have opinions about everything, and i’m intrinsically motivated to want everyone to know my insight—but what if no one cares, and by sharing i’m actually driving people away instead of bringing enlightenment? what’s the use in sharing my point of view if all that i am doing is building a wall?
i think it all goes back to something that i’ve had to remember from time to time. i always loved the “iron sharpens iron” verse, but what about ephesians 4:15? this is that verse in the Bible that i always try to throw out, because even though it talks about honesty, it talks about doing it in a loving way—and that’s hard for me. i wish it wasn’t, because it is so important. am i really listening to others if i’m attacking them with my viewpoints every three seconds? am i really using my honesty to edify someone when i argue every stupid point?
the simple answer is no. and thanks to sarah and britt, i have learned this lesson recently. it’s not that i need to change who i am, it’s that i need to learn to edit and be edifying instead of always argumentative and confrontational.
so don’t worry, i’ll still tell you if your butt looks awful in those jeans. but i want to work on edifying others instead of tearing them down. iron sharpening iron sort of thing. so maybe what i thought was others not listening was others being put off by my confrontational style. maybe it was me that had the problem all along.
i think it all goes back to something that i’ve had to remember from time to time. i always loved the “iron sharpens iron” verse, but what about ephesians 4:15? this is that verse in the Bible that i always try to throw out, because even though it talks about honesty, it talks about doing it in a loving way—and that’s hard for me. i wish it wasn’t, because it is so important. am i really listening to others if i’m attacking them with my viewpoints every three seconds? am i really using my honesty to edify someone when i argue every stupid point?
the simple answer is no. and thanks to sarah and britt, i have learned this lesson recently. it’s not that i need to change who i am, it’s that i need to learn to edit and be edifying instead of always argumentative and confrontational.
so don’t worry, i’ll still tell you if your butt looks awful in those jeans. but i want to work on edifying others instead of tearing them down. iron sharpening iron sort of thing. so maybe what i thought was others not listening was others being put off by my confrontational style. maybe it was me that had the problem all along.
I love you Jeshie.
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