“Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving].” (James 5:19 The Amplified Bible)
We live in a day where people seem to quickly opt to attempt to resolve differences and remedy conflict through weapons, wars, and words that heighten instead of decreasing conflict or even erasing the reason behind a potential skirmish. There is a better way. Consider what happened with Edgar and Earl not too long ago.
Edgar and Earl went to the same school. Edgar was an All-City tackle on the football team, and Earl was a standout member of the varsity basketball team. One school day, as students were going from one class to the other in a packed hallway, Edgar, an athlete with a large frame and a height that towered over most of the students, passed Earl in the crowded corridor. Earl, a short boy who played guard on the basketball squad, heard his name being called out. It was a boisterous voice, bellowing loudly, and filled with anger. Earl turned around and saw Edgar staring straight at him and the expression on his face matched the rage expressed in his voice. A fight seemed to be imminent. But thankfully, a couple of teachers were coming down the hall, and the students kept moving to their class. Edgar kept looking back at Earl as they were going in different directions to their next classes.
Later that day, after school had been dismissed, Earl was walking home. He heard his name yelled out. He recognized it as the same voice that he had heard in the hallway. Ignoring the voice, Earl continues to walk down the street. Suddenly Edgar crosses over and stops Earl in his tracks. Earl asks, “What is your problem?” Edgar says, “My girlfriend says that you have been calling her at night, but you hang up before she could say anything.” Earl looks surprised. He responds, “Edgar, I have never even given a thought about calling your girlfriend. Somebody is just trying to start something between us.” Edgar is listening, his face becomes more peaceful. Earl goes on to say, “Believe me, I admire how you two get along and I would never and will never interfere with your relationship.” Edgar asks, “Are you telling me the truth?” Earl says, “Yes!” Edgar unclenches his fist and extends his hand out to shake hands with Earl. After the hand shake they walk together down the street. Long story made short, the two boys become friends. As a matter of fact, they are still friends today.
There are three points that I want to share with you my friend; points that may come in handy even if your high school days have long passed. Perhaps they will help you on the job, in your marriage, in an unexpected encounter as you walk down the streets of your community, or in the midst of a tense relationship with a person who has something against you because of a misunderstanding. Here are the points: (1) Make peace and avoid being pugnacious. (2) Reconciliation is better than resorting to violence. (3) There is power in honest communication.
Have a great, peaceful, peace-making, and peace-keeping day! Be blessed!
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9 NIV)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King