After the fun and relaxation of the Thanksgiving break, I went back to work full-tilt and was astonished when Tuesday felt like Friday, when Wednesday felt like Friday, when. . . you get the picture. My, what a long week!
Add to that a few mind-racing early morning ponderings on the topic of cheap unity. In our staff's study of the book of Philippians, we came across that phrase, and it has been challenging me all week. So what is cheap unity? It's unity that doesn't seem to have a cost, that doesn't require much.
At three this morning (sigh) I realized that cheap unity, getting along with no conflicts, but also no expectations, is actually quite costly. I won't grow, you won't grow, and actually, dealing with the same unresolved frustrations inherent in such relationships might be more work than actually having a little conflict to solve the problem.
I'm worried that the majority of us are so conflict-averse that we sometimes choose to avoid problems rather than to have hope that maturing people can finds ways to solve them. Speaking the truth in love is too scary, too fraught with the possibility of rejection. But, as a wise person once said to me, "It might also push you forward to something good. What's the worst thing that could happen? What is the best thing that could happen?"
Much to chew on. . .
