My Last Nerve - Pt. 3

 

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1-6 ESV).

 

One of my favorite “Sunday comics” was Peanuts. I suppose they are still a staple of the newspapers still published and distributed; however, I have long since stopped my personal subscription to printed news in favor of the multiple electronically published news feeds I regularly read. One of Shultz’s cartoons is reprinted here. As you can see, it shows Lucy looking quizzically at Snoopy and saying she sees him as both “huggable and buggable.” There is a lot of truth to that about most of us. I know it is true for me. I can be both someone who is prickly and loving. I certainly hope I am more the latter than the former, but I am sure it is at best equal in how I relate to others.

 

Sometimes that’s what makes marriage a challenge — as well as many other family relationships. It’s also a reason why people can have a hard time getting along in
the various groups we are a part of. The fact is that we all have our weaknesses and quirks that can make our relationships with others less than smooth.

 

Paul calls Christians in Ephesus to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” He knows that the only way this can be accomplished is to develop a spirit that exercises the patience, care, and gentleness of Christ. Yes, there are times when we must confront people in love and seek to resolve difficulties. But there are lots of other times when we must graciously bear with one another. Paul uses a word here that means “to refuse to get bent out of shape or become angry and resentful.”

 

It takes consistent effort, and often great emotional energy to accomplish this position in our relationships with others. Sometimes loving the unloveable, hugging the buggable, is the only answer to our problems. If we find that difficult, it would be good for us to ask ourselves about all the times our Savior has had to do the same with us.