I have a decorative cube in my office with cute sayings on each side. I bought it for one saying only, this one.
This reflects a side I am willing to show and use as an excuse for so many bad traits, forgetfulness, grumpiness, lethargy...you get the picture. There are many other sides to this cube. There are perfectly nice sayings such as:
Smile
Save time see it my way
Nope, not today
Work for it
Chase ideas
I actually feel all of those sides many days. but I only show one. Why? To "say" to someone that they need to see it my way or that I don't have time for them today seems harsh even though both sentiments have run through my mind. To ask someone to work for what they want from their pastor seems less that pastoral and frankly in a church that is highly engaged already to tell the broader audience to chase their dreams might be a bit overwhelming, although it is a great idea. And I rarely tell anyone to smile. It seems patronizing. So I put out the side I want people to see.
This in not a blog post about fake news or liberal/conservative media, What i am saying is take a moment to truly hear and consider what you see and read in the world. When you see someone doing or saying something you don't like, disagree with or are offended by ask yourself, "I wonder what their side to this story is?"
Lately, I have been faced with dealing with situations were there is a clear cut right and wrong. Unfortunately I have had the opportunity to face the "wrong" person. (Some other pastor must be getting to deal with the "wronged person.") At first glance I want to say - you were clearly wrong. You should be receiving the consequences you are receiving. But love (agape) forces me to look from their side at the issue. Suddenly compassion overtakes condemnation, understanding replaces umbrage.
That fourth side is the side that is shown to the world but underneath is a truth side that allows for compassion and reconciliation. The truth side is the hard side because you are forces to let go of your favorite side and the facade side and to actually admit to the truth. Truth erases blame, politics, doctrine, ideals. It is just the truth. But in that hard place of truth work can be done and right fighting can end.
Maybe I will turn my cube around...
Certainly my own mom was wronged when she got not one phone call from you or an acknowlegement of returning back to church while dealing with a horrible illness. I ask her every week if you have said a word or included her in prayer requests and she says no, but she is humble and respectful. I was baptized in this church as a teen and and officer of the youth group all through high school. I am so disappointed of what I hear of how certain people get Christ-like treatment while others are ignored in their darkest and fearful times. My mom by the way may not be a born and raised Smith County person but she raised 7 kids there who all played sports, set records and graduated with honors,4 with degrees, even doctorates, put herself through college and ran a successful business in town for 20 years often assisting those less fortunate and spends her life helping others. So disappointed in you and yet I don't even know you. Love and respect all of your congregation not just the ones that you deem most valuable and affluent in your community. I have had this heavy on my heart for a couple of months and since I see no email to contact you, I will express myself right here. My mom brought you hot coffee before bible study and has attended for years and to have zero acknowledgement is just not becoming of the head minister. Yes, I'm the oldest child and my name is Sabrina Maggart-Tarr, previously Sabrina Stacey Please know I will continue to pray for you to recognize all of your members when they are ill and take a minute to let them know their home church cares and has noticed they were missing. May the Lord be with you in your reflection and with me in my disappointment.
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