Who pushes the buttons and irritates you?
In a spiritual growth community that offered retreats was an old man. He was irritable, messy, fought with everyone; ~in fact he ignited arguments everywhere he went.~ He was one of those people who make you mad just the way he said “hello.”
After trying to stay for months the old man left. Immediately peace broke out among all of the retreatants. Quiet and serenity reigned at the center.
But the retreat director was haunted by a problem. He began searching for the old man. When the director found him he begged the man to come back. “Absolutely not!” he said. “No one appreciated me, I was miserable, and the retreatants were just whiners.“ The director continued to beg. But the old man would not waver. Finally, the director offered him a large monthly salary. The amount was so generous, the old man couldn’t resist.
When the old man returned, the retreatants were furious. “How could you pay that old troublemaker so much money? After all we are paying expensive tuition to be here.”
The director just laughed. “You are paying to grow in the spiritual life. I pay this man so you can learn about your irritability. He brings your anger to light. How else are you going to learn to be gentle instead of being aggravated? How can you learn peace if you never confront and overcome your anger? That is why you pay me and why I pay him.”
Maybe the “grumpy person” in your life is actually on God’s payroll — hired to reveal your rough edges.
Do you love the lovable? Anyone can do that. Are you kind to the people kind to you? Everyone does that. To love the unlovable, to offer kindness to the mean-spirited, is spiritual maturity.
A spiritual grace is only developed in its opposite circumstances.
Unlovable people teach us to love. True peace is learned only when the storm rages around you. Gentleness is the fruit of irritating circumstances.
If you avoid life’s difficult people and messy moments, you miss the chance to grow. But if you face them with grace, the very worst circumstances can bring out the best of your God-created self.
Loving people, Along The Way
