dailydatewithgod

We are meant for relationship. Every interaction with another person is an opportunity for connection, learning, or loving.  We like to think it is only the pleasant interactions with others that are supposed to happen.  We determine that nothing good can come from conflict or disagreement.  Funny how there seems to be a lot of both of those things present in the world. There must be a disconnect between what we say we want and what we do.  Could it be that no matter what we do or how good our intentions are, conflict and disagreement will still exist?  It sure seems that way.  Perhaps God is calling us to take a closer look at what is happening when we are in conflict with others or their ideas. Maybe it not a bad thing for there to be disagreement but an opportunity to look at what we make that disagreement mean about the totality of the other person.  Of course it feels good to get along with others when we can share similar ideas and philosophies.  Yet, if all we were to do is agree and get along, we would never grow.  We would form a lot of group think.  Perhaps it is not the people and the ideas that we are in conflict with or disagree.  Maybe it is the approach on their part and ours of how to handle it.  If we lose our humanness when dealing with others, what does that make us?  It is not someone else’s fault that we do not agree with them. Why do we make them the villain?  Maybe by coming into contact with them God is inviting us to see God in other forms.  Our enemy is as much a creation of God as our best friend.  God is inviting us to learn what it means to love and grow in love.  Love is just the nice stuff.  Great love takes great courage.  Courage, meaning at our core, from the heart, is the space in which God dwells vibrantly and with great strength.  When we stay rooted to our sense of self in our hearts, we can learn to find love anywhere. God is everywhere, not just where we want God to be or the places it is nice for God to be.  When we are willing to trust the presence of God in any interaction or experience then we can see through the eyes of love and do not need to make anyone an enemy no matter how much conflict or disagreement.  This is not easy as is evident in our public and private conversations and interactions. It is not easy in the parking lot at Trader Joe’s or the line at the post office, but just because it is not easy does not mean love is not present.