What to do when you don't know what to do

Charles Spurgeon:

God gives to His people the propensity to cling. Though this is a very simple sort of faith, it is a very complete and effectual form of it. In fact, it is the heart of all faith, and that to which we are often driven when we are in deep trouble or when our mind is somewhat bemuddled by sickness or depression in spirit. We can cling when we can do nothing else, and that is the very soul of faith. Always cling to what you know.

"We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you." (1 Chronicles 20:12)

(HT: Mark Altrogge)

If they would just listen to me, this conflict would… not be over.

Peacemaker Ministries just posted some excellent counsel. It’s mainly about why sending that lengthy, passionate email or letter is usually not the best way to resolve a conflict. But what struck me is the heart motivation behind it all (emphasis mine):

The desire to resolve conflict via the written word is usually rooted in two convictions: First, that we need to choose our words carefully (more carefully than we might in person), and second, that if we could just get the other person to listen carefully and attentively to our perspective, then the whole argument between us could be resolved. The first of those aims is laudable; the second is usually sadly mistaken at best and incredibly selfish at worst.

…Try sending a much shorter, kinder message that reaffirms the importance of the relationship in question and that invites further communication in person or by phone--communication in which you pledge to listen to the other party and to acknowledge your own contributions to the conflict.

I’m not in any conflicts at the moment, but next time I am, I’m sure I’ll be tempted to think that everything would be OK if the other person would just listen to me.

What a wonderful thing to have a Savior who is meek and lowly in heart, and who teaches us to be quick to listen and slow to speak.

Swallowed up in victory

More from Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl:

Tragedy isn't an easy thing to kill....Tragedy must be destroyed by someone willing to be swallowed by it, willing to be broken, torn out of the flesh, but able to return to it. Someone must be able to shatter the tragic from within and exit into comedy, able to rip a hole so wide that a train of souls, a parade, could follow after, banging drums and throwing candy as they strolled into the sun....

I will die, and when I do--whether it be in my bed as age creeps over me, or struck by lightning, a meteor, or a UPS truck--when my body and soul find their divorce, His hand will be the one that cuts the thread and shows me the path He blazed through tragedy. His finger will point to the parade.

Sorry to tell you this, but the world will end happily

From a book I'm enjoying:

The movie isn't over. I'm sorry to tell you this, but the world will end happily. Sorrow goes down in a barrage of bullets, and Grief is executed after a fair trial....

The world is rated R, and no one is checking IDs. Do not try to make it G by imagining the shadows away. Do not try to hide your children from the world forever, but do not pretend there is no danger. Train them. Give them sharp eyes and bellies full of laughter. Make them dangerous.

The view from my commute these days