Had time in the plane from Brisbane to Sydney to reflect on lessons I need to learn from the last two weeks. I was talking to a mother and son combo, and then, with the mother’s ok to talk with her son primarily, I managed to miss the attention and interest of the son. I now see this as a bad “sin”, or at least a great pity. Such a precious opportunity, should be appreciated and treasured, not misused. Please forgive me.
Then in a similar (though opposite) situation with a Senior Biology school student, with my lack of tuning in to what was important for the other person, and what causes fear for them, I think I made it hard for the student (while, at the time, I was trying NOT to fall into that kind of thoughtlessness, but, completely unaware of it, I did anyway, because I was too “gung ho”!. Oh, what a sadness. Live & learn!
Oh please creative hon’rable friendship,
please help me grow in thoughtfulness to show
the nature of yourself, and not to slip
into the confidence that’s just gung ho!
I met a boy who helped me grow up more
to be a human like that perfect man,
by being still 14, not yet a score:
his eyes glazed over, and he then began
to look around, because I could not hold
his int’rest by ide-as that held me.
I hadn’t asked good questions, hadn't told
the kind of things he’d love to hear or see.
I jumped in with a challenge early on,
and didn’t put my energies to work
to find out what would float his boat, make song
well up within him, diss-enable shirk-
king, draw him on for int’rest’s sake, to pay
attention from the time of all his life.
And then a girl, bit older, the next day
was scared stiff of some other kind of strife.
I hadn't asked if fam’ly/ friends were near,
and that was quite important, now I see.
For all her mind was taken up with fear,
or wond’ring what folk thought of her with me…
So how important is this listen, look,
& find out what is happ’ning round about;
& maybe sense relationships and hook
into the anxious fears of who’s got clout.
It’s not that I can manage all of these
for other people, they make choices too;
but from my side I can do what might please
& serve the folk around.. who I’m sent to.
17If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to be good. 18Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody. 19Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God's anger do it. For the scripture says, “I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord.” 20Instead, as the scripture says: “If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them a drink; for by doing this you will make them burn with shame.” 21Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good. (Romans 12:17-21)
‘Remember this, my dear brothers and sisters! Everyone must be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to become angry. [20] Human anger does not achieve God's righteous purpose. [21] So get rid of every filthy habit and all wicked conduct. Submit to God and accept the word that he plants in your hearts, which is able to save you. [22] Do not deceive yourselves by just listening to his word; instead, put it into practice. [23] Whoever listens to the word but does not put it into practice is like a man who looks in a mirror and sees himself as he is. [24] He takes a good look at himself and then goes away and at once forgets what he looks like. [25] But those who look closely into the perfect law that sets people free, who keep on paying attention to it and do not simply listen and then forget it, but put it into practice — they will be blessed by God in what they do”. (James 1:19-25 GNBUK)