Urgency necessitates action
where the length of time is unknown.
Life is but short; no time can be afforded but
for the indulgence of real sorry, or contests upon questions seriously
momentous. Let us not throw away any of our days upon useless resentment, or
contend who shall hold out longest in stubborn malignity. It is best not to be
angry; and best, in the next place, to be quickly reconciled.
—
Samuel Johnson
It is a serious challenge to our
pride to reconcile the idea of relational reconciliation in all circumstances.
Only the person given to humility can overcome the temptation of pride that breeds
and broods with anger.
I must contend against myself of
the times more recent when these contests of pride and humility have taken
their toll.
It is not easy living the
relational life where there are always seemingly high stakes. Where stakes are
high, there go the emotions, and commitments are often made rashly.
Once a commitment is made it is
doubly hard for the pride to rescind the error.
We are counselled well to take
none of life so seriously that we lock ourselves in, unless, on the
circumstances, once or thrice in a lifetime, of a meta-cause. If we will give
ourselves to a purpose, then that will take us into seriousness, but we must
regulate the emotions that will carry us through the journey.
Many reminders of our proclivity
to anger are necessary.
Anger rises, sometimes, and most
dangerously, against the flow of our joy. It surprises us when we deny how we
truly feel.
***
Time is a great healer only if we
will surrender ourselves to what we cannot control.
We waste our time on the
pettiness of emotions astray.
Common sense may not be very
common, but if we make reflection common we are sure to grow in sense.
There is no time for resentment,
only time for reconciliation.
But, of course, not only is that
easier said than done, it’s also something we need to learn the hard way.
Most of us need to waste some of
our time on the uselessness of paddling against the current of our
circumstances – to experience the folly of contriving a result we cannot achieve
– before we finally learn it’s hopeless.
Let us enjoy every moment of life
free of anger toward others. Let us quickly go to them who we are angry with
and forgive them. Because we can. Because their power over us is then finished.
Declare war on resentment by uniting
the will to reconcile with the joy of purpose.
The war of life is waged over
time. Time we win or lose. There’s no time for resentment.
© 2015 S. J. Wickham.
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