The Daily Disturbance

“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” Leo Tolstoy

C’mon, who doesn’t have an occasional annoying partner whom God has used to change your world, and you?!

Let this current burden lead you to C.H.I.L.L!

“Optimism – the doctrine or belief that everything is beautiful, including what is ugly.” – Ambrose Bierce

Burdens become blessings when we see all that knocks on our doors as gifts. Not necessarily the “knockers” themselves but their presence at our doorsteps!

We can welcome them, gently turn them away, or hold our ground as they insist on forcing themselves in. Regardless of what others do, the blessing is in the way we choose to respond.

So, yes, we can wee ALL our unwanted burdens as opportunities to better ourselves as persons, and so as personal gifts!

Nope.

Well, not yet.

For now, receive the conflicts of your life as a gift!

Let is prune you, sharpen you, transform you!

Let it also reveal to you a God who works on your behalf and resolves and maximizes conflict issues for your benefit.

“When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them.” - Proverbs 16:7

“The love of conflict is most evident when opposing forces join sides to defeat the peacemaker.” ― Criss Jami

Ouch! Live with conflict, but please, don’t fall in love with it!

Here are practical – and hopefully inspiring – ways to deal with tough conflicts that just won’t go away!

Let’s R.E.S.O.L.V.E. it!

7 steps to Conflict resolution.

Choose a person or an issue you are currently “conflicted with” and move towards mutual understanding!

“Peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of creative alternatives for responding to conflict -- alternatives to passive or aggressive responses, alternatives to violence.”

“Often those that criticize others reveal what he himself lacks.”

Let’s go deeper within!

How can we address conflicts around us if we first don’t resolve the conflicts within?

Let’s identify the H.U.G.O.T.S. – deep-seated issues – of our lives!

“Where there is power, there is resistance.” - Michel Foucault

Where there is collaboration, there is conflict.

So, yes, there is a way out of very conflict.

But no, there is no way to live a life without conflict.

Let’s resolve to learn from this and pursue peace!

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. - Matthew 5:9

15 choices that will define – and refine – your life.

Let’s do them once, and again, daily.

L.I.F.E.’S. T.O.P. C.H.O.I.C.E.S.

“All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful, but not all things build up.” - 1 Corinthians 10:23

“As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.” – Nelson Mandela

The choices made for or against you are other people’s choice, not yours. Now, respond to them with your own choice, and either maximize them or turn them around, for good!

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people[a] should be kept alive, as they are today.” – Genesis 50: 20