Has anyone else noticed how almost everything in life these days is up for critical review? Seems like everyone has their own score card at the ready. Thumbs up. Thumbs down.
People like things. Why? Well, they just do. They can’t really explain it. It’s usually more of a feeling, sort of, you know, an emotional response. They don’t like to think about the details of why they like something. And that’s fine. I get that. I’m the same way sometimes. But it’s also true that...
People dislike things. Why? Hold onto your butts. If you open the door to it, they’ll spend hours and hours telling you why. They have lists. They have categories. They have euphemisms and metaphors and griefs and grudges. They are suddenly articulate and emotional. You can tell they’ve really thought about the things they dislike. They’ve thought about it a lot.
A LOT.
Why do you like this person or that person? [I don’t know. They’re just nice. We just clicked. It was fate.] Why do you dislike this other person? [How do I hate thee? Let me count the ways. Let me show you how many adjectives and adverbs I have memorized. Let me enumerate their worthless attributes.]
We need to ask ourselves why it’s so easy for us to condemn, and so hard for us to praise. Why is it so easy to see what’s wrong and so difficult to see what’s right? Why are we so willing to tear down, and so uninterested in building up?
Ephesians 4:29
Peace to you.
© LW Publishing 2011
