August 5
Scripture focus: Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. Galatians 6:1 (The Message)
Our dog, Tilley, loved to fetch things. She liked us, but she loved chasing and catching and retrieving more. We often thought that she wooed us by pretending to like us so that we'd play with her. At the back of our property, one of our neighbors has a split rail fence that he fortified with chicken wire. One night during a rousing game of chase the tennis ball, Pete over shot the target and the ball landed in our neighbor's yard. This was not a deterrent to Tilley. She had a bead on the intended target, and she was relentless in her pursuit. She busted through that chicken wire like it wasn't there. Unfortunately, when she turned around to come back, the wire had fallen back into place and she was stymied, unable to return to her own yard.
She tilted her head, and looked at the fence like, "Hey, what are you doing here and why are you keeping me from that guy who I've trained to throw this ball?"
Like Tilley, sometimes we find ourselves on the wrong side of the fence as we seek to live out Galatians 6:1. On occasion, we lose our way – and I'm not talking about the "one who sins." I'm referring to us spiritual types, the people who are allegedly helping their brothers and sisters out of the ditch. Instead of helping with the restoration, we find ourselves becoming critical. We start taking other's inventory. We stop empathizing and start judging.
Dealing with sin – whether it is ours or another's – requires creativity and wisdom.
As we learn about how to appropriately appreciate healthy boundaries, I pray that we prepare ourselves for the journey. Exercising good judgment with regards to loving others while respecting boundaries is challenging. Some days we're going to over shoot the target. Other days we're going to miss an opportunity to assist in the restoration because we're so busy guarding our own walls.
May we be gentle with each other as we grow.
Recommended reading: 2 Samuel 13-15
2 comments:
I am watching from one side of the fence and my thinking is making me wonder,did I jump the fence too.My guess is Tilley did not get back on the right side without the people in her huts help. Is it possible that the best help is not to help? Praying for creativity, wisdom, and trust.Praying for a mothers struggle with her 18 year old son. Praying for my community those who are in it and those who need to find it. God Bless my fellow Nortstarians.
Good point about the help from the hut. Tilley must have wanted back in her hut, and was willing to cooperate with those that loved her and were available to help her. I suppose she could have run off. And if she repeatedly left her hut, over time something bad could have happened to her as a result of leaving the home that was set up to insure her safety.
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