Musings in Virginia....

I have been sitting in Romans 11 and 12 on this trip and this thought keeps running through my mind from 11:22: “Make sure you stay alert to these qualities of gentle kindness and ruthless severity that exist side by side in God..” I understand that Paul is discussing how we (Gentiles) were invited (grafted) in to the family of faith after many of the Jews rejected Jesus; so God pruned them-“ruthless severity”.  So many of us have been through pruning, whether it be through physical health issues, broken relationships, financial struggles, outright disobedience, etc—and we have often been left mulling over where God was in all of it.  Was He pruning, punishing?  Eventually in my life, when I got to the other side of the difficulty, I could see the “gentle kindness” that had not been evident in the middle of the distress.

However, my broader application of this is an observation of how it pertains to relationships; specifically on this trip- my relationship with my spouse!! I have come to see that each of us exhibits “gentle kindness” in many situations, but when fatigue, anger, judging, and expectations get in the way; that “ruthless severity” crowds in.  It usually sneaks in as blame, frustration, crabbiness –and of course, opening our mouths when we should not!! I am very aware that this is not a perfect application, because God’s ruthless severity is for our good – and our ruthless severity has no good when directed at each other!  But it has made me better able to overlook those deficiencies and realize that the gentle kindness will return—the ruthless severity is just a “bump in the road” on this journey!

In an even broader overview – this election year is a perfect example of allowing “ruthless severity” to dictate rather than “gentle kindness”; not only in the candidates' treatment of one another but in the general public’s outrage directed at any opposing views.  I am desiring to allow the Holy Spirit to show up more in my relationships to family and friends, as evidenced by gentle kindness.  I truly believe it matters the most in dealing with this broken world.  In the spirit of being teachable, would you let me know if I am missing the mark?