It's no secret that I LOVE a good project. Scott and I dream of owning a ranch house and some property one day. I joke that we'd be great at doing a big renovation but we may not make it out alive. We've been through two big construction projects building our house and redoing our backyard. To say we hit some bumps in the road through the process is an understatement. My friend was baffled by the crazy stuff we've gone through. I told her I was beginning to think it was me. I do not always wear my Sunday best when dealing with contractors. I try but man, it's tough. All this craziness had me wondering if we were really having construction issues or I was just being ridiculous.
Are you making waves in your life blaming others or life circumstances instead of taking ownership? I despise conflict. Truly, I do. I would rather have a smile on my face than a fist in my hand. I am wired for peace not conflict. However, like most people, I have had my fair share of issues with others over the years. Sometimes I am really good about looking at the reflection and taking responsibility for my actions. Other times, I like to ignore my stupidity and the way I have hurt someone. While other times, I completely miss it and cannot see my wrong-doing not because I am ignoring my faults; I am just ignorant. Life is messy and hard in and of itself let alone having to deal with and own our junk; especially when we have done wrong to another.
I began wondering, after all this construction craziness, if I was a wave-maker. Do I create conflict or is it a product of my situation. Sometimes conflict is unavoidable and necessary. Sometimes we pick and pick until conflict arises. Other times, we create conflict just because we don't know how to live without making waves. I don't want to be a wave-maker.
I was listening to a podcast from one of my favorite preachers last night. He said he no longer likes to give advice to people when they come to him. He said he was only going to give advice from the pulpit from now on because no one wants to hear what he has to say anyway. He claimed, and I have to agree, that people don't really want our advice. Unless our advice matches their agenda, people don't want to hear it. They will continue to search until they find the one soul who agrees with them. I have to concur. Am I making waves huffing and puffing at the good advice of loving friends (even when it hurts) telling them how wrong they are running towards the one who agrees with my insanity or am I willing to humble myself and deal? Tough question.
I want to be a peacemaker not a wave-maker. I want people to know they can come to me with tough stuff and not have to feel like they are walking on egg shells. I want to have honest loving relationships that deal with the ugly and gnarled untangling the relentless knots of life together instead of tearing each other apart.
One thing I have learned in life is that conflict is going to come. It's inevitable. I can't hide from it. I have got to learn to deal. I have also learned that maybe, just maybe, I may be the culprit of the conflict. I need to stop and evaluate whether or not I am the one making waves and ask myself if they are necessary. Conflict can be good when dealt with properly. I want to be on the right side of conflict owning up and humbling myself as I work through the junk. I want others to know I am a safe place to fall. I want to learn to be a peacemaker calming the seas not creating tidal waves.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." Matthew 5:9
Love & Blessings,
Meg
Are you making waves in your life blaming others or life circumstances instead of taking ownership? I despise conflict. Truly, I do. I would rather have a smile on my face than a fist in my hand. I am wired for peace not conflict. However, like most people, I have had my fair share of issues with others over the years. Sometimes I am really good about looking at the reflection and taking responsibility for my actions. Other times, I like to ignore my stupidity and the way I have hurt someone. While other times, I completely miss it and cannot see my wrong-doing not because I am ignoring my faults; I am just ignorant. Life is messy and hard in and of itself let alone having to deal with and own our junk; especially when we have done wrong to another.
I began wondering, after all this construction craziness, if I was a wave-maker. Do I create conflict or is it a product of my situation. Sometimes conflict is unavoidable and necessary. Sometimes we pick and pick until conflict arises. Other times, we create conflict just because we don't know how to live without making waves. I don't want to be a wave-maker.
I was listening to a podcast from one of my favorite preachers last night. He said he no longer likes to give advice to people when they come to him. He said he was only going to give advice from the pulpit from now on because no one wants to hear what he has to say anyway. He claimed, and I have to agree, that people don't really want our advice. Unless our advice matches their agenda, people don't want to hear it. They will continue to search until they find the one soul who agrees with them. I have to concur. Am I making waves huffing and puffing at the good advice of loving friends (even when it hurts) telling them how wrong they are running towards the one who agrees with my insanity or am I willing to humble myself and deal? Tough question.
I want to be a peacemaker not a wave-maker. I want people to know they can come to me with tough stuff and not have to feel like they are walking on egg shells. I want to have honest loving relationships that deal with the ugly and gnarled untangling the relentless knots of life together instead of tearing each other apart.
One thing I have learned in life is that conflict is going to come. It's inevitable. I can't hide from it. I have got to learn to deal. I have also learned that maybe, just maybe, I may be the culprit of the conflict. I need to stop and evaluate whether or not I am the one making waves and ask myself if they are necessary. Conflict can be good when dealt with properly. I want to be on the right side of conflict owning up and humbling myself as I work through the junk. I want others to know I am a safe place to fall. I want to learn to be a peacemaker calming the seas not creating tidal waves.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." Matthew 5:9
Love & Blessings,
Meg
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