It’s a default setting in my internal vocabulary.
Someone voices a statement I believe to be true; it creates some sort of internal circumstantial dissonance. Rather than pausing to honestly examine the conflict, I react with, “Yeah, but…”
Love your neighbor.
“Yeah, but he’s a jerk.”
God so loved the world…
“Yeah, but He never met those people.”
I’m grateful for forgiveness and grace and second chances.
+ + +
Do I really believe what I believe?
What if I didn’t react? Didn’t need the last word?
We cycle to bring hope and freedom to kids rescued from human trafficking.
What if I let go of the sarcasm and focused on that?
Even Paul struggled with this inner conflict. “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do… For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.”
No excuse, but I guess I’m in good company. And checking social media, perhaps we’re not alone. So – what to do?
We could give up, give in to the dark side, spiral into anger and cynicism. Apparently, it’s human nature.
Or we can remember 22 kids who depend on us and be grateful for a huge community of generous people who love our kids in ways that make God so loved the world… a tangible reality.
As much as anything else, I write this stuff to remind myself that my default depression and negativity isn’t inevitable. I do believe, and faith leads to hope. And…
HOPE changes what’s possible.