Hope wrote: Please tolerate me. I do not like to point out the flaws in others. I have too many flaws myself. The Lord has had mercy on me. There is hope for us all. I fear I may come accross as writing off real and dear brothers and sisters because of mistakes and sins of the past. But remember our Lord does not break a bruised reed.
I have never been completely sure what the bruised reed thing means -- I have heard
completely different things about it --- amazing how different. Well, I think you mean like, don't kick a dog when he's down. God doesn't. He really does love us, with all the flaws we have. Bruised reeds that God treats with gentle drawing towards Him.
We all have people in the LC or out of the LC that we love. People who were part of our story. I have shared that Max and his wife are two of those people for me. I am telling you, I would have stayed an insane little 17 year strung out addict if he hadn't been willing to do what God told him to do in my town. And all throughout that experience he was always there for me. Sandee, too. And although I was young, we had a equality that comes from God.
There are others I could talk about --- friends and people I loved. We all have lots of names in our hearts, I think. And that is precious. Most of us become a little bit like a grizzly bear if we feel our loved ones are being hurt or threatened.
So, I have been trying to figure out how I feel about all of this. You said to use the discernment God has given us. It's extra hard to do that on line. Have we all known someone who goes to meet an 'internet romance'? Scares everyone to death. Because it is hard to have discernment on line. Okay, it's not that good of an example, but it sort of illustrates my point.
I have enjoyed your book. I admire your williness to open up your chest cavity and let us into your heart and your life. And I don't know you at all. I remember your name, but that is about all. I have this thought that you are tall.
--- funny, huh? And still, I feel like I like you. Your writing about Daystar touched my heart, and I wrote to you about it.
So, I am feeling like I like you well enough, and trust you some, too. But ...
but I don't want anyone to say things about people I love. We are ALL like that. And it's not just Max and his wife --- there are others that I feel protective about.
I know I am not the only one with this inward conflict. At least, I don't think I am.
So, where it leaves me is this --- I have some choices. Just ditch this whole thing right now, head in the sand before anything really makes me sad
or mad
. Or, try to be less thin-skinned, and see what comes.
I wasn't in on the behind the scenes politics of the whole thing like you were. And boy, howdy, am I glad I wasn't. I guess I knew plenty, but not every detail or the nitty-gritty. That makes our experience and understanding different now, just as it was then.
Does any of this make sense? I am saying to me, to you, to anyone who wants to listen
---let's just remember to not break any bruised reeds, not to kick a dog while he's down. We need to have lots of gentleness and kindness with each other.
And I will do my best to stay open to you, Don. 'Cuz I have this idea that you are a good person. Stay open to me, too.
FPO
PS --- how cute is my little dog? Cute.