Posted by Steven on November 16, 1999 at 00:21:45:
In Reply to: Re: Overreacting posted by everyonehasone on November 15, 1999 at 17:55:06:
: People have a right to say that they are offended or hurt. People can't have healthy relationships if they don't communicate honestly with each other. Bill promptly apologized when he realized that Steve's feelings were hurt, but Steve had to let Bill know that he was hurt first. That sounds like open communication between two friends. Maybe I'm confused, but I see nothing wrong with that.
Thank you, whoever you are. Believe it or not, that is the about the most comforting thing I've heard in recent history.
Sometimes I wish I could stop speaking to anybody except from behind the pulpit. I can better get away with being who I am in that context. Away from that capacity I often feel I am openly guilty of some fault which has ever been inherent in me, which I don't feel I can change, and which will never be accepted. After 44 years, I am who I am, whoever that screwed-up person may be, and in expressing myself, I do the best that I can considering who I am and the plethora of things observed to be wrong with me. It's the simplicity of being somebody unique that makes life worth living. It's the shame of ever being unsatisfactory that breeds hopelessness and alienation. It's nice to be able to be who you are without always hearing how you should be. It even nicer to be who you are and have someone tell you that that person is pretty cool even after all the inherent flaws, which in my case could fill volumes. And that is precisely why I love Jesus. Life without the assurance of His love and acceptance would be utter hopelessness and grief. The more I feel rejected or disgraced, the stronger the sense of His Presence in happy compassion and His purposeful delight in intervening in my silly life.