Doing Right - Regardless

The truth is simple.  After so many years of believing, the truth is still simple.

Hundreds of people come through my life each year looking for "one-to-one" discipleship or counseling and I have come to the conclusion that relationships are simply messy.  Humans struggle with themselves and selfishness. There are probably 12 sides to every problem and, without a doubt, it takes two to have a fight.

There are times when one person is just wrong, when a boss is just unjust, or when a spouse is just mean but, even in those times, the other person can choose to do right.  In fact, as I have said for years, "Choosing to do right personally is the only thing that you have control over in a relationship."  The truth is simple.  People who are wrong will not be won over to rightness by people who are wrong.  

It isn't fair when people are mean, wrong or treat us like garbage but we are still supposed to be right because of our contract with God.  This "doing right - regardless" isn't just about people.  When the whole world is watching over-baked, reality, sleezy TV and taking advice from would be gurus who are really "tickling people's ears" for profit, we should still do right.  I should do right.  In trial, I should do right.  When cheated in business, I should do right.

If you are wondering why I am writing this today - wonder no more.  So much of my life is doing so great but I have one friend who is just being unfair, discouraging and dragging me down.  I realized yesterday that I can gripe, complain, and maybe even fight or I can do right.  I have been discouraged in this relationship for days and feeling like throwing in the towel (I know. We all have to live in heaven together so this really isn't an option.) but God reminded me that my responsibility is to do right.  He reminded me that doing right in relationships requires compassion and faith in His ability to win them over just like He wins me.  Doing right is praying for and, so often, keeping my mouth shut until he tells me what to say.  Doing right is about participating in His plan for this person and not focusing on what I might be losing or experiencing.  It isn't about me, it is about He.

Then, quietly, the Spirit reminded me of the simple truth: doing right regardless is the cornerstone of my Faith. Without this simple truth in play, I have no Faith.  Jesus did right regardless in every situation.  That is what Faith does and that is what Faith chooses.  I must do right in everything regardless.