It’s Pointless

Don’t let the title worry you. I was referring to circles or more specifically vicious circles. You know the kind. We don’t know how or when it started, but only that it continues over and over. And the only way to stop it is if one person chooses to do so. But that would mean the other people get the advantage, right? Pride gets in the way of ending those cycles. That and a sense of justice, twisted or not.

I tell this to my kids when they’re fighting. Seems like I’m saying it on a daily basis. In a fight, the only way to end it is by at least one of you decide to stop. “But he…” But she-” I get it. It isn’t fair. They hurt you. It seems only fair to get them back. They took something from you, so why can’t you take something from them. An eye for an eye? I understand the feeling because I’ve been there. I still struggle with those feelings from time to time. Why is it so hard? Because when we lay down our weapons, we have to trust the other part of that circle will do the same. And that is a difficult thing to do.

The world judges Christians because they often fail at this level of trust. It’s interesting to me the high standard to which we are held. I guess with the One we follow, we should be held to that higher standard and do our best to reach for it. Why do Christians fail to end the vicious circle? Shouldn’t that be something we would excel in? Fear, of losing something or someone…our safety (self, family, financial, health, etc) or our dignity. The fear of losing any of that stops us cold.

As humans, we have a natural tendency to cling from the moment of our birth. If you place your finger on the babies hand, what do they do? They instinctively curl their tiny fingers around yours. They aren’t thinking about it. It’s automatic. Letting go is the ongoing lesson. What’s the solution? This is going to hurt a little (ha, or a lot!).

Colossians 3 (MSG)

[ He Is Your Life ] So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective. Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.

And now for some other vicious circles…