I have learned that a mirror, however much I appreciate it’s honesty, will only show me one side and it doesn’t change no matter what way I turn. It is no help when reflecting on conflict.
If you argue and contradict, you will end up feeling victorious most of the time and so will your opponent. This seems illogical I hope; it most certainly is. Your victory will be an empty one because you can’t judge a win a win if you lose your opponents good will.
A misunderstanding is a flame that is not put out with flame. Grace, tact and diplomacy are the only forces strong enough to put it out while avoiding the burn of resentment. True Grace, is to grasp the nature of misunderstanding enough to not nurture resentment.
2 Comments
October 24, 2007 at 1:10 am
Beautifully written my dear. I encourage you to read Sylvia Plath’s poem “Mirror” You might like it.
November 3, 2007 at 9:48 pm
There have been many times in my life that I have extended grace to my opponent, just because I valued that person more than winning the conflict. I had many of those conflicts with my father and had never felt more liberated letting them go before he passed away.
When you exercise your freedom to express yourself at the lowest level, you ultimately condemn yourself to live at that level.