Some people can be difficult to live at peace with. To live peaceably and in harmony requires each person to do the work on themselves.
Some people are like bottomless holes. You give and give, and they take and take. They raise a storm, and you’re expected to bring peace.
Instead of taking self-responsibility, they blame and shame. They make others a scapegoat for their failings.
I know of someone who would do everything they could to try and please their angry husband, but nothing seemed to satisfy. It was an endless giving out.
Eventually, she realized that nothing she did would bring perfect peace and harmony. That he was responsible for his own life and the war raging within himself.
Live at peaceSo often we think we need to serve others to the point of sacrifice. That it’s our job to fix other’s problems. That we are to ‘turn the other cheek,’ ‘go the extra mile,’ and give them the shirt of our back.
Living at peace with some people is near impossible because some people are difficult and they are not at peace within themselves.
Whatever you do, it won’t be enough.
For harmony to exist, all parties need to be in tune.
Tuning the guitarOnce I was playing my guitar with a group of others, and someone said to me, ‘I think you’re out of tune.’
I played a chord, and sure enough, one of my strings was not in perfect pitch. It was out of tune. That single string was destroying the beauty of the music.
I quickly tuned the string and got back to the music.
If you’re an experienced musician, you can quickly tell if someone is out of tune.
All the other strings may be at the right pitch, but if one string is not at the correct tension, at the perfect pitch, then it will ruin the music. There will be no beautiful music. No harmony.
If guitar strings were people, they might well say to that out of tune string ‘You’re out of tune, and you need to do something about it.’
You cant tune yourself, but in submission, to God, the strings can be tightened or loosened. Once it is in perfect pitch, then beautiful harmonious music can be played and enjoyed by all.
As far as it depends on youPaul, in Romans 12, writes these words.
If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Romans 12:18
You can only do so much to live peaceably with others. They need to do their bit too. They need to be willing to be tuned by God.
You may love them deeply and want to make their life better, but their life is their responsibility.
You can only do so much. You can’t meet their every need.
It may not even be possible to live peaceably with some. Paul points to this when he says, ‘If it is possible.’ Some people are going to remain ‘out of tune.’
Living with ‘out of tune’ peopleWe all have difficult people in our lives, but with prayer, patience, and staying in the zone of what we can do, we can find a way through.
Mental Health is ... learning what is your control and what is notCLICK TO TWEET
Quotes to considerBarry Pearman
Image cc: Roberta Sorge Uriel Soberanes
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free