Day 42: March 12
The thought for today is ACCOUNTABILITY.
There is always more than one perspective in any conflict.
This was pointed out to me on many occasions by my mother as I was growing up. Whenever I went to her with a problem I had with someone else, she would ask me what role I played in the conflict and how my words or actions contributed to the problem at hand. At the time her questions seemed unsupportive, but they stayed with me into adulthood. She had given me a valuable gift.
Our words, actions, and demonstration of emotions may directly or indirectly cause conflict and we need to own up to that when it happens. Likewise, when faced with conflict, we are responsible for our words, actions, and emotions in dealing with it. We can choose to participate in it and risk prolonging and escalating it, thus causing yet more damage; or we can take to heart the teaching of Jesus who told us over and over to overcome through Love.
Accountability begins with me and you. It requires honest reflection daily on Who We Are, what we stand for, and whether or not we are living with integrity to the values and principles by which we claim to live. Look over some of the words we have focused on so far during this Season for Nonviolence. How has not paying heed to them played a part in causing conflict in your life? How can they help resolve your disputes?
Healing, contemplation, reverence, integrity, humility, self-forgiveness, acceptance, respect, listening, making amends, patience, acknowledgment, love, understanding, mindfulness, graciousness, kindness, dialogue, openness
When we discover our part and take ownership of it, we can start the process of healing by forgiving ourselves. We can then ask forgiveness from the others involved and move on to finding solutions to our problems and rebuilding relationships.
Be accountable. Live with integrity. Move the world in the direction of Peace.
Oh, and by the way…thanks, Mom.
Reflect on your words, actions, and the emotions you display. Are they creating conflict or revealing Peace? Are they consistent with Who You Are? Do they represent the values and principles by which you say you live? If not, then what can you do to change it?
breathe Peace ~
Rev. Rebecca
