Greg sat listening to Simon.
Both of them were Christians. Both of them made a plea to follow Jesus in some way. Both were married men. Simon was slightly older than Greg, but Greg had been a follower of Jesus for longer.
The age thing mean that Greg approached Steve with a degree of respect. He didn’t want to offend Simon that’s for sure and he didn’t want to stop his friend from being open and honest about his feelings. But it was tough going.
Simon was incredibly self-absorbed and sensitive to criticism. Part of his rant to Greg was about how his wife didn’t understand and how his family didn’t understand and how no one seemed to understand, but he would show them anyway. Simon talked about the projects he was running for the prison ministry. As a crafts teacher he had set up a project to get some prisoners to express inner feelings through various means. even with this, Simon found reason to be critical of the ministry leader not taking his suggestions seriously.
Greg sat listening for the best part of 15 minutes to one issue after another. He soon got the clear impression that it wasn’t the godly thing to do to just let his friend ramble and rave on without at least challenging him.
“Simon, do you ever think the problem could be you?” Greg blurted out when the space allowed.
“What do you mean? I thought you understood.” Simon was hurt again.
“Hear me out, before you shut me down.” pleaded the younger man, “I hear you. I really do. You’ve been misunderstood by so many others. They have not treated you well on occasion and understandably you want to do something about it.”
“Well, it’s true. You heard what they said.”
“I certainly did. But in all of what you’ve said, where was the time to consider their views?Where was the desire to show grace or a degree of mercy? It just sounds like it’s everyone else’s fault and you’ve stood in judgement on them.”
“What? That’s what it sounds like? But you don’t understand.”
“Hey, Simon. I have not experienced what you have. I don’t know the pain and the hurt you go through. I’m just wondering about how you’re processing this in a way where the beauty of Jesus shines through you, rather than your sense of injustice, hurt and defiance.”
Simon stewed in silence in response. Greg could see his friend’s conflict of emotions.
“For what it’s worth, Simon, I know what it’s like to feel like you’re the only one. I know what it’s like as well to be challenged about my own response to others hurting me. I’d just encourage you to check out how the Spirit of God is supposed to produce certain qualities from us. Especially when we’re pressed on ever side by these grievances.”
(Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 