So, now you wonder how I can name this post "Peacemakers". Well, as I said, I started to think a lot about selfishness and what it all involes, and as I sat down to write the first thought that came to me, was, why do we get upset or angry? I said to myself, what does that have to do with selfiness?
Before I go one step further I just want to clearly say these are my own thoughts, others may have a totally differnt idea or opinion. It would be nice to get some feedback and hear what other have to say.
So as I was saying, I wondered what angry had to do with selfishness. I had alway thought I did not get angry. To me getting angry was flying off the handle and thowing something or yelling. I would get more frustrated than angry, but I have learnt this is a form of anger also, so I had to ask myself what I was frustrateded or angry, with or about. Mostly for me it was alway about something, not at someone. Then this thought came, we get angry because we are selfish, but, I thought, some reasons for anger are justified, like righteous angry, but that is another story. Anyway, some get angry because they can not get thier own way, others get angry because they can not get the things they want. but, I think most people get angry because they feel thier TIME is being infringed upon. TIME is very important to to us and to me that is where selfihness comes in.
Please don't miss-understand. There is a balance between time for yourself and time for others and the things we love to do. Nowadays, with the fast pace and busyness of life, the need for time for ourselves is great. We need time for ourselves, for refreshing and reflecting, to help us restore our sence of well being. By doing this we are better able to give ourselves to others. But, when we desire so much time for ourselves at the expence of others, or, we do not get any time just for us, often anger, resentment and hurt become to norm.
Today, it is very difficult to juggle the busyness of life with time for yourself. When you have others in your life who need your time and attention it seems impossible to find even one second for yourself. It is not like it use to be, work for 5 days at eight hours come home have the weekend off time for family and friends and church. It seem during this era even then time at home was less hacktic. Today however, there does not seem to be a break at all, stores are open all the time, some 24 hours, people work all hours of shifts, this busyness has spilt over into time with family and friends and church. IS IT TRUE? there is not enough time, they is still 24 hours in a day, or is it true that we are just plain to busy. Busy doing what, trying to find time for ourselves. I think there is a whole lot more here that I have not figured nor do I have the words to clearly express all my thoughts.
I think this is where we grow, for some it is easy to let go and be selfsacrificing, but for others it is like trying to pull King Authers sword out of the stone, because, the way I see it, we just want what we want regaurdless of the other people in our lives.
Either way the selfscarificing person or the stubborn one in the end both lose. The selfsacrificing one become resentful, because to them, it seems they are always giving in and there is no time for them. and the stuborn one becomes spiteful and so the ball is rolling, both kinds of people are hurt and angry in the end.
So where and how do we stop the ball from rollling is the question?
For me it is taking some valued time and asking God to help me put things in the right order, and realizing that God is never in a hurry. I Like what James the brother of our Lord has to say.
James 3:13-18 (The Message)
Live Well, Live Wisely
13Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. 14Mean-spirited ambition isn't wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn't wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn't wisdom. 15It's the furthest thing from wisdom--it's animal cunning, devilish conniving. 16Whenever you're trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others' throats.17Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. 18You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.
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