-Is it really that important?
-Is it worth the confusion it will cause?
-Is it worth the hurt feelings?
Someone has said, “The art of being wise is knowing WHAT to overlook.” For the sake of making the point, I would like to ask, “How much of what we don’t overlook is really important? How important is much of the trivial stuff that we make so much to do over? In my judgment, too many mole hills are turned into mountains. We react to trivial things, things that really do not amount to a hill of beans. Conversely, the important things in life are often not given the same attention, energy, or emotion.
The excuses that are given for such juvenile behavior are just that…juvenile. Unfortunately, far too many people have a very short fuse. It doesn’t take long for the fuse to hit “pay dirt” and things blow up. What follows often becomes unnecessarily hurtful. Wounds are opened that more often than not, will never heal. It is for sure that the scar tissue will always be there as an emotional reminder of the “little thing” that exploded into something destructive. Sadly, the pain will never go away. And, more often than not it is “the tongue…the little member” that kindles the fire (James 3:5). James was speaking from experience when he wrote (in the same chapter), “The tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God…these things ought not so to be” (James 3:8-10).
People spend too much time looking for something to “tick them off,” or so it seems. It would be so much better if words and deeds were deliberately chosen to build others up and encourage them. It would be so much better for all concerned if we would JUST OVERLOOK SOME THINGS…THE TRIVIAL THINGS…THE THINGS THAT ARE BEST LEFT UNSAID AND UNDONE. For many it seems that there is some personal pleasure in stirring up a stink and hurting someone, and more often than not it is someone we love.
In closing, I remind you that THE ART OF BEING WISE IS KNOWING WHAT TO OVERLOOK. We could all smarten up a bit, don’t you think? Think on these things! Act on these things!
Pastor & Mrs. Jerry A, Jones