Forgivness

   The more I grow and interact with the world around me, the more clearly I see how forgiveness is the key to everything. Some of us are easy going, others of us are extroverted or introverted, some of us live life with hidden rules others have to abide to be in our good graces, others of us have no rules at all etc. We are all different. Not only are we different but some of us live out of opposite extremes - we are an ocean apart. Yet, God placed us all here and now. He expects us to get along and love each other anyway.

I forgive you:
for not understanding me
for offending me
for being different
for living life in a way I dislike
for using words I'd never use
for having those friends
for watching those shows and listening to that music
for going to that church
for having a different personality
for blah, blah, blah,
And the other person is saying, "Yea and I forgive you for being offended by all those things." (ha-ha)

      We build walls over stupid issues, yet important (important only because we allow them to get in the way). Even though life is not about us, we tend to hold resentment over the most self absorbed things, like, "We don't click." Forgiveness is key. Many times we use these petty offenses to righteously justify our distance with some people. But there is nothing that "righteously justifies" shutting people out of our lives. Again, forgiveness is key.
      Ask God to reveal to you who you've shut out, lifted your nose too, ignored and felt justified about doing it? Then once God gives you their face, ask Him to show you what is it about them that's caused you to be cold. After that I challenge you to forgive them. Let them off the hook. See them with fresh eyes.We need to look a little deeper within and pay attention as to why we build these invisible walls if we are ever to mature into spiritually healthy vessels God can use. Some of the ones that need our love the most are the ones we are shutting out.
        Maybe just maybe the enemy has planned the whole thing, so the two of you wouldn't connect, because he's looked ahead and sees you could do great things together. You never know.