Monday, January 8, 2007

Tried and true....

(note: at first typing, I had a keyboardist Freudian slip and wrote "tired and true." yeah, well, it's not too far off the mark either)

Cliche' that it is...

If I'm not part of the solution, then I'm part of the problem.

Having had my own come to Jesus moment with this tidbit of veracity, I now want to bang everyone else over the head with it - er, that would defeat the purpose a wee bit, eh? Ok, I want to share it with everyone.

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In my marriage, if I'm not part of the solution, I'm part of the problem. And, in dwelling upon all my hurts recently, I became part of the problem.

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Note that this cliche' does not read, "Since I am part of the solution, I am the solution." Doesn't work that way - though wouldn't that be nice at times? ;-)

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At our church lately, a lot of hurts have surfaced, and I'm reminded - as I watch people sit the fence about staying or going - of this cliche, and how both sides of the pettiness need to hear it.

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With respect to needs of our communities, if I'm not part of the solution - the giving of time and money, support of education and awareness efforts, and a multitude of other things, then I'm part of the problem that continues to plague many of the hardworking Americans who live in poverty despite their best efforts.

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Talk is cheap. It's the actions that solve things.

If I'm not acting on seeking a solution, them I'm part of the problem.

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So, just how thin can I spread myself Lord? There's a lot I'd love to see fixed.

5 comments:

  1. Question, if one is trying to be part of the solution and that persons idea of the solution is different from anothers..... what do you do?

    Food for though.

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  2. I know....

    Trying to be part of the solution is never easy or clear...

    I hope that I didn't come across simplistic or all "look at me, I'm smart and right," b/c that was not the intention....

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  3. No No, not at all. I was just thinking out loud and wanted to hear your thoughts. My ideas of what a good solution looks like generally differ greatly from other views. What does that mean? I don't know.

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  4. I totally get you.

    It seems to me that when one person is trying to be the solution, but the other is holding out on the premise that that solution is all wrong for them, instead of rolling with it and seeing just what good may come- well,then they've become part of the problem. How to overcome that? I don't know...

    Never give up???

    I finally took your advice and watched WTC....I totally get what you were referring to. And wish that Charlie Brown had stayed awake to see it too. We are doing better, but every little bit, particularly that that isn't ME, helps.

    (hugs) Bec, (hugs)

    Oh, and....I'm supposed to go to Denver Monday night for my school orientation - maybe on the way to or fro we could connect for that coffee??

    Man...I'm fried from the cryin'....g'night. E-mail me....

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  5. I think that part of the problem is that sometimes there are no solutions. I am Christian, but I find that with that comes a lot of expectations. Some are legit: "Catholics murdered for centuries!" and some are not legit: "All Catholics are right winged freaks who bomb abortion clinics." I have struggled with what I'm about to say for a long time, but it comes down to this for me: being too "I am right" about anything will turn people off. By being supportive of peoples' need to find answers on their own, I'm not being a wimp. I'm allowing them space to think. To breathe. To come to conclusions that they worked for, not were told to do. If they don't, all the talk in the world wouldn't have changed them. If they do, they respect me more for allowing them the dignity to find answers to their challenges. I don't know what your issues are in your life, but I know you will find the solution. And one day, what seems like a problem will simply be a stepping stone. So while you're working through that stepping stone, lean on God for your rock.

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