Now I understand the idea behind this, why someone would like this underlying idea that when we are mistreated it's about the other person, not us. When someone is treating you in an unloving, unkind, abusive manner it shows what's in their heart, not yours. Your heart isn't seen until you react to their mistreatment of you....unless of course you started it.
But the main thing wrong with this highly self confirming I'm OK, You're OK meme is that um, actually, that is exactly what normal people do. Normal, ordinary folks put themselves first, tear others down to lift themselves up, and do things, small and large, that bring destruction, pain and misery into the lives of other human beings. Normal people are nice to other people in the hopes that people will be nice in return, they are polite so that they look good and are accepted, or they are good to people because they want something. If it seems like they can get away with not being nice without hindering what the majority of society, friends, family, etc. think about them and without looking bad, and if they are not going to get anything for being nice, then the normal course of action is at best apathy and indifference and at worse malicious evil.
Disagree? How many people walk by the broken homeless on a daily basis, refusing to make eye contact or acknowledge their existence, much less their need? How would it feel to be treated as though you were worthless trash that might as well not exist? Could that possibly be destructive? We are in the midst of a Presidential Election year. It doesn't take more than a few minutes on social media to see Conservatives saying the most hateful and hurtful and just plain mean things to and about Liberals. Of course Liberals are doing the same to Conservatives. Sanders supporters try to destroy Clinton supporters and vice versa. I can call someone stupid, say things about them that would make me cry if personally directed at me by someone I respected as long as they're on the opposite side of some group or issue.
The absolute worse thing any parent can go through is the pain of losing a child. And yet recently half or more of this country attacked a woman they did not know, screaming for her blood basically and for her to be held responsible and have her (thankfully still alive) child taken away from her because a gorilla was killed to protect her child who fell into it's area. To nearly lose your child and then before the adrenaline can wear off and the breath can be caught you are judged by an entire nation, your qualifications as a mother and right to raise your child called into question, you are personally attacked by half the people and the other half, who are supporting you, are attacking people who attack you, that's not the least destructive or normal. No one is hurt, right? Right. It's not normal human behavior for people to try to destroy one another over a gorilla. Yes. Yes it is.
That's why living like Christ is so radical. It not only is not normal. it goes against our every instinct and nature. Don't look out for yourself first. Put others before you. Lay down your life for people who haven't done anything for you and don't deserve it. Love others, without expecting anything in return. Love your enemy and bless those that curse you and pray for those who despitefully use you instead of retaliating. Now that's what's not normal or ordinary behavior. In fact it's so outside the realm of normal that we can't do it. The only way to come close to loving others and treating others in anything other than, at best - as long as you don't hurt me I'll be nice to you way and, at most normal - if it's not in my best interest not to I will destroy you sort of way, is by the grace of God and the power of the Spirit.
Today, let us not be normal. Let us pray for the grace to live outside the realm of normality and let our words and actions bring life to those we encounter. Let us not bring destruction into anyone's life today.
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