Thursday, March 14, 2024
“Reconcile with a Friend, Loved One, or Neighbor”
Today’s Challenge for Lent is one that we repeat each year, not because it is so difficult, but because it’s possible (or probable) that we need to patch a relationship with someone. Even as those words are written, it makes me shiver to think that in each passing year, I might have a relationship that is in distress.
Because I’ve been writing these Devotions for at least ten years, can I surmise that I’ve had to reconcile with at least ten people during that time? Have I really made ten people so angry that each year during Lent I must force myself to reconcile with them? Is that what this arithmetic means? Yeah, kinda. Oh, sure, a couple of those are repeat offenders each year, but otherwise, I almost always have a new reconciliation to complete.
Reconciliation isn’t easy, but two pieces of the process are especially difficult. First, in order to reconcile with someone I must admit to myself that I maintain some fault in the issue. The whole issue could have been my fault, or, I may have reacted poorly to harm, injury, or offense that someone else caused me.
Secondly required in reconciliation is that I must admit to another person my own responsibility or wrong in an issue. This second step of breaking my pride is especially difficult because some people view it as a weakness, and I don’t want other people to think that I’m weak.
In order to take the necessary steps towards reconciliation, I must begin with my own heart and mind. Am I ready to reconcile? If not, why? Does my reasoning for not reconciling emit from a place of sin, such as my own selfishness or self-righteousness? Sometimes we are correct in our distancing from someone and closure of that relationship is required for our health and security. Other times, however, it’s purely our own sinful pride that intervenes between us and reconciliation with a loved one.
Today’s Challenge should be obvious enough. It’s likely that we need to pay close attention to whatever argument is rumbling around in our hearts and minds. Is God leading us to someone specific? If so, why is God being persistent and what should I do? Prayer can answer those questions, so go to God and seek counsel. It could be that someone who loves us needs us back in their lives, but we may have to take that first step to make it happen.
“Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32, The Message)
