Monday 15 January 2007

Core Issues--Bitterness

Note:
See the Blog Description posted 28 December 2006.
Also see the topic of the month posted 1 January 2007--Core Issues for Mission/Aid Workers.

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Bitterness.
Henri Nouwen has observed that in this life, "love and wounds are never separated". We hurt those we love and vice versa. Working through such hurts and forgiving, though challenging, is certainly more desirable than the alternative: harboring the hurt and developing a pervasive, entrenched bitterness that can defile our souls and those of others (Hebrews 12:15). Forgiveness, an act of mercy which pardons others for specific offenses, is the only sure antidote for such bittereness.

Excerpted from "Giants, Foxes, Wolves, and Flies"
Doing Member Care Well (2002)

Questions for Reflection:

  • How do stressors bring out the best or the worst in you?
  • Think of a time when a core issue for you was whether your respone would make you "bitter or better". What did you learn?

To make a comment--see instructions from 9 January 2007.

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