CONFRONTATION - IT'S A GIFT!

I HAVE BEEN, FOR YEARS, FRUSTRATED WITH THE SOUTH. NOT QUITE AS A WHOLE, BUT RATHER IN A LITTLE CLUSTER OF WAYS. I WILL TRY TO FOCUS ON ONE ISSUE THAT HAS CAST A HEAVY BURDEN ON MY HEART: AVOIDANCE. I HAVE FOUND THAT PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH DO NOT LIKE CONFRONTATION. THAT THEY WILL PUSH THEIR EMOTIONS BEHIND THEM. PRETEND THAT  EVERYTHING IS SUNSHINE AND RAINBOWS. DAYS, WEEKS, OR MONTHS LATER, ALL OF THE FRUSTRATION PENT UP BEHIND THEIR WALLS EXPLODES INTO A MILLION PIECES. THE REACTION PRODUCES FAR MORE DAMAGE, TO THEMSELVES AND THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM, THAN WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THEY HAD ADDRESSED THE ISSUE ON THE SPOT. I AM NOT SURE IF IT IS A NORTHERN MENTALITY THAT RESONATES BOLDNESS, AND A SOUTHERN MENTALITY THAT RESONATES MEEKNESS, BUT EITHER WAY, THE SOUTH HAS STARTED TO PISS ME OFF. (PLEASE NOTE THAT I USE THIS BLOG TO LET MY EMOTIONS FLOURISH INTO A GIANT VULNERABLE GARDEN OF COLORFUL VOCABULARY!) RECENTLY, I WAS IN A SITUATION WHERE I WAS CORNERED INTO AN UNEXPECTED EXPLOSION OF EMOTIONS. I WAS SO TAKEN A'BACK BY THE THINGS THAT OFFENDED THIS PERSON, THAT I DIDN'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. NOTHING WAS TOLD ME UNTIL THE MOMENT OF THE COMBUSTION. THE REACTION WAS VERY INFORMANT, BUT VERY UNHEALTHY AND IRRESPONSIBLE, ESPECIALLY COMING FROM AN ADULT. EVENTUALLY, SOMEWHAT REASONABLE CONVERSATION AND UNDERSTANDING WAS MET, AFTER THE ASHES AND SMOKE HAD CLEARED. YET, I CAN'T HELP BUT REMAIN CONFIDENT IN KNOWING THAT ALL OF THE CHARADES AND DRAMA COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF IMMEDIATE CONFRONTATION HAD HAPPENED. IT SAYS IN SCRIPTURE THAT CONFRONTATION IS A PART OF RELATIONSHIP. IT IS HEALTHY. IT IS FREEING. NOT ONLY FOR YOURSELF, BUT ALSO FOR THE PERSON WHO HAS HURT YOU. MATTHEW 18:15-17 YOU CAN'T LIVE YOUR LIFE EXPECTING THAT EVERYBODY IS IN TUNE TO WHAT YOU ARE FEELING ON THE INSIDE, AND NOT VOCALIZING. EVERYBODY FEELS, UNDERSTANDS, AND REACTS DIFFERENTLY TO THINGS. IF YOU ARE DEEPLY HURT, EXPRESS IT! CONFRONTATION IS A HEALTHY WAY TO LET SOMEONE KNOW HOW THEY ARE MAKING YOU FEEL. IT BECOMES UNHEALTHY WHEN IT IS GROWING WITHIN AND LASHES OUT IN ANGER. VERSE 17 EVEN STATES THAT WE IF THE PERSON REFUSES TO LISTEN, THAT YOU TREAT HIM AS A GENTILE AND A TAX COLLECTOR. THIS VERSE IS OFTEN TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF, BEING USED TO RELEASE WRATH UPON SOMEONE. BUT - WHEN WE LOOK AT SCRIPTURE, WE SEE THAT JESUS TREATED TAX COLLECTORS AND GENTILES WITH RESPECT AND HONOR. THE ONLY CHANGE IS THE INTIMACY LEVEL BETWEEN THE TWO. ANYWHO. I WILL WALK IN FORGIVENESS. AND I WILL REMAIN CONFIDENT IN KNOWING THAT IT IS NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY TO LIVE MY LIFE IN FEAR OF HAVING OFFENDED SOMEONE. I EXPECT TO BE CONFRONTED. I WILL BE RESPECTFUL! DEAR BROTHERS AND FREAKIN SISTERS: PLEASE KNOW THAT CONFRONTATION IS A GIFT GIVEN TO US TO GROW BOLD DEEP RELATIONSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER. A-FREAKIN-MEN!