Today she came home from her morning shift and we talked about some tension between her coworkers. She repeated her advice that I shared with you all a few days ago - you can't control how she behaves, you can only control how you respond. Then she offered another vital piece of wisdom: pray for her. Pray for the girl causing the tension.
I know, Jesus said it first, but it just goes to show how great Brenda is.
It got me thinking about all the frustration I've been feeling about the world recently. I get super riled up about any number of things lately, which I've touched on in previous posts, and it is humbling to realize how little prayer I've put into it. My first reaction is blaming others, then taking a look at myself, but how often do I pray for the ones who are causing the strife?
It isn't about changing them. It's about changing me. Praying for the people who make you angry, the people who oppress, the people who harm others does something for your heart. It forces you to consider why they do the things they do, see them as real humans beings. How would our world be different?
I'm embarrassed to say, I don't really know what this looks like.
So my challenge, mostly for myself, but for any of you too, is this: Pick just one. Someone in your life, someone in the media, an organization, a religious group that makes you angry. Pray for them. Genuinely, with compassion and love, consider why they are the way they are. Ask for kindness to be shown to them that day, that they would feel loved, that they would receive grace.
See what happens.
25 Days for Peace is a cooperative blogging experiment between myself and five other artists, designed to explore the facets of peace, particularly centered around this season intended to experience the peace of Christ. Visit this page to see the other contributions to this journey, and like it to join with us in exploring what peace means.
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