Relationships inevitably must weather conflicting opinions if they are to thrive. I'm reminding myself of that after a recent stance on policy. I deferred to the other outwardly, but inwardly I was more than a little annoyed. Why was that?
Self. Both of us had the same goal, but I didn't get to reach for the goal my way. I had to stay within policy. As I've been reflecting on the conflict, I've come to understand the other person's point of view and the policy behind it. Given the situation in which one or the other opinion was to be acted upon, I need to accept that it was the other that was for the greater good.
Self is too often a formidable foe.
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interest of the others. - Philippians 4: 1-4
Image ~ Woman at a Sunny Window, Carl Holsoe 1863-1935
public domain, Wikimedia Commons
