First Be Reconciled…

As to unresolved differences and feelings and offenses, the fact is that when we resent others, it is damaging to us, and it is to our own advantage, no matter whose fault it is, to bring the matter out in the open, and let it be understood and over. Consider, for example, the feelings that many of us may have had when we have gone out of our way to avoid other people, because of quarrels or misunderstandings or feelings of offense. When we were youngsters we may have walked across the street or around the corner to avoid the embarrassment of meeting someone face to face. It makes us uncomfortable. It makes everyone uncomfortable. It confines us because of the embarrassment of going places and meeting certain people. Even when we feel the fault isn’t ours, even if we feel that others should make the first move, we may soon discover that we do ourselves a favor if we resolve the differences, so that we will not feel ourselves off limits anywhere. And it is likely that all other parties to the problem will earnestly welcome the steps we take to resolve the situation, since they themselves have been feeling the same embarrassment. In any case, as we remove misunderstandings, our own hearts will be happier, our movements easier. The world is large, but very small when we have an enemy. In families, among friends, in marriage, and in all of life’s relationships there should be freedom, forthrightness and fairness, and there should be honest effort to resolve the differences that keep people unhappily apart, or cause them self-consciously to avoid each other, or to make believe they haven’t seen someone they likely both know they have seen. The world is too small and life is too short to let such differences restrict our movements or lead us to the deception of pretending not to see someone we have seen. Said the Master of mankind: “…first be reconciled to thy brother,…” The source of this advice would seem to promise success.