THAT’S LIFE

The statement “you’re d…. If you do, and d…. If you don’t” is a way of life no matter what your life style is.

This is probably because there are so many paranoid people walking around. We all are affected by something that is not exactly paranoia but exhibits some of the watered down traits of it.

An example is our ability to misunderstand what is being said in a conversation, because we interpret what is said to mean something that isn’t actually said.

You could call it “sensitivity imagination.” You sense something and imagine it means something else.

Suppose three girls went to the mall and you saw a classmate, not a friend, but you knew each other. Now she has seen you and you felt you should acknowledge her.

You leave you friends and greet her by saying, “How are you doing?’

She answers by saying; “What do you mean how I’m doing? Have you heard something about me? Were you and your friends talking about me? What were you saying? I’m tired of people lying about me behind my back. If I hear you said something about me, I will get even with you and your friends.”

WOW, you are now faced with the situation that no matter what you say it will just make things worse. If you try to deny her allegation, it will start a new round of accusations and threats. You could tell her “I have no idea what you are talking about,” but that would validate every thing she said.  The best thing to say might be, “see you later,” and leave for at that point the imaginary has become real.

We are a complex people and we react to our environment in different ways. We all have found ourselves in similar situations as above, maybe not as radical but certainly being misunderstood.

Even in the church world all of the negative attitudes are present. A man might shake hands with a lady and the husband might conclude he held her hand too long. Then on the way home the accusations begin to fly. You should have pulled your hand back and not let him hold on to it. Then there is the hugging in church and so on all of which is fertile ground for vain imaginations.

The truth of the matter is there is justification for some suspicions for some have perfected their guile to seem marginal.

Just a word about offended parties whether the offence is real or imaginary the effect is the same.  If they will listen you can explain that you never meant to hurt them and try to mend fences to the point where they understand that they just misunderstood the whole thing and all is well.

Except, if you imagined you were being accused of something, and you were not guilty, you went through a process something like; insult, feeling ill, loss of self esteem, and so on until you get mad about it and the hurt is deep seated where no amount of explaining can ever expunge it.

One of the things we hate the most is being misunderstood, where our intent is seen to be something other than what we meant. Our efforts to clear up an issue like this are kind of like using “white out” to fix a typing error. It covered up the mistake but left it with an impression behind.

Because these things are implanted deep within (whether real or imaginary) it is hard to forgive and forget. The best we can do is get on by it and act as if it didn’t happen, and though the memory remains refuse to let it dominate you.

The scripture says; 2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ