As we walked, I noticed a huge buildup of ice, much like a miniature glacier, which had formed around the curb and driveway of the first house down the street. Their entrance to their drive was situated on the leading edge of a curve on the street so the water collected at that point originating from the neighbors drainage. I thought to myself, "I bet they really appreciate trying to turn into their driveway with that icepack as the first obstacle to hit before the incline to their garage"
As I looked further down the the street, I observed that the water had created similar entry hazards in ever-diminishing amounts for fifteen more residents down the hill. Two thoughts occurred to me. One was, "These folks probably don't see this as a curse because they don't deal with it at the same magnitude as the first house at the curve." The second thought was, "The resident who diverted the drainage from his house is totally oblivious to the potential problems created for their fellow neighbors. "Out of sight, out of mind." or "That's their problem, not mine."
Reflecting on, "It's an easy oversight since they probably installed the drain in the summer with no thought of ice in the winter." On the other hand I mused, "How inconsiderate, discourteous and thoughtless of that owner to not consider the needs of others." Then it occurred to me there were two other options, "The residents down the street don't really care and just live with it as a natural part of their winter lives." The other was, "It sure is easy to take up offenses for others."
I've seen this same type of thing in fathers, families, congregations and churches leaders. They proclaim blessings or ignorantly spew forth error in word or deed leaving the impact on those under them unattended. Those in their charge generally have at least three responses: 1. They get offended and leave or get bitter and stay. 2. They don't notice they've been slighted and do nothing. Or 3. They hear it from someone else and take up an offense the first party never considered.
1 Corinthians 13 defines love as an action in terms of being patient, not self-seeking, believing the best of others, not easily angered, not rude and has stopped behaving childishly long ago. Does that change the drainage problem or remove the glacier from the entrance to the drive? Probably not. But it does change the affected neighbors down stream. How they perceive the situation determines the outcome for them.
Some self-proclaimed community organizer may try to gather a local neighborhood committee to discuss the "infraction", and take steps to confront the alleged negligent home owner to get the drain location changed. They might even call on local officials to confront the home owner and actuate change. These are the cowards approach.
There's another option most people avoid. It's called one on one confrontation. Ouch! We dislike confrontation. It is uncomfortable. But I didn't say what kind of confrontation. 1 Corinthians 13 further defines love's actions as gentle, kind and peaceable. This kind of confrontation requires courage, compassion, self-sacrifice for the good of others.
Matthew 18:15 gives a clue to addressing error and conflict; "“If your brother (neighbor) sins against you (knowingly or unknowingly), go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother." Isn't that the goal, to keep a good relation while resolving the issue. Preserve the unity by building bridges instead of building walls.
For those taking up an offense, that aren't really affected by it all, Proverbs 23:29 - 30 hits the mark: "Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you. Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm." It's more commonly known as meddling. And it's a good way to get bit. "Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears." Proverbs 26:17. It's time we learned to love as Christ loved.
The flip side to all this is a picture of blessings. Our heavenly Father has diverted cursing accusations from Satan and poured a fountain of blessing upon His children. His children are seen as pure and righteous as God views our shortsightedness, willfulness and ignorance through the filter of His Son, our propitiation. That's a big word and an old one. How about another more commonly used word like placation: the act of placating and overcoming distrust and animosity. God has overlooked our fault as it were by placing Christ, the Lamb of God, on the alter for sacrifice. It's called grace. And it's a gift. We don't earn it or deserve it. We call out to God for mercy, confess our sin to Christ and forgiveness is ours.
How freely does this grace and forgiveness flow? "And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb."- Rev. 22:1 Drink it in! Stand under the flood and be washed clean!
