Friday, November 02, 2007

I'd like the world to change

A common theme these days among the kids I'm seeing is that life is unfair, school is unfair, and in fact the world is just a stupid place. Everyone should change to accomodate me.
Years ago, Paul Faulkner and Carl Brecheen, both Ph D's from Abilene, wrote a series of family studies called, "Whatever Happened to Mom, Dad and the Kids?" In it, they subtitled a section, "The Trouble With Us is Me."
Think of it: You have a problem with someone else. Expect him or her to change? How will you make that happen? You can't force anybody to do anything. Best to change yourself. Become a more generous, understanding person. See if that doesn't begin to affect a change in the other person. It might not. Jesus changed 11 bickering disciples in the upper room by washing their feet. One of them ratted him out to the authorities. Eleven out of twelve times, changing and making yourself the servant to others worked.
Yes, there are limits to everything. Didn't say you had to be the doormat. But make the first step, and see if things improve.
That's all the wisdom I can come up with. Still learning. That's how it is.