compassion in conflict

I'm reading some stuff that's been changing me. It started with a little book called 'Basic Christianity' by John R. W. Stott. That little book sort of "set up" the next thing that a couple of friends and I are currently reading...a book called 'Exiles: Living Missionally in a Post-Christian Culture' by Michael Frost. 'Exiles" is a three-part book, and we are meeting to discuss each part as we finish it. I tend to read pretty quickly, and found myself ahead of the discussion schedule, so I picked up a book by Brian D. McLaren entitled 'Finding Faith - A Search for What Is Real'. Partway through that book, and after meeting with our pastor and friend (and on his recommendation), I picked up 'The Genesee Diary' by Henri Nouwen.

It's interesting how all of these books seem to have almost built on each other. Each have offered, and are offering, different viewpoints and awarenesses into what it means to be a follower of Jesus. They've brought up such varied ideas as the basis of what it is to believe in Jesus...what the Bible really says; how to deal with life as a follower of Jesus in a commercial, self-centered, and injust world; what church should maybe look like; and the idea of monastic living without actually becoming a cloistered monk.

A while back, I found myself in conflict with an old friend. We were trying to build something together and it ended up falling apart. Actually, it fell apart for me, and ended up leading into something good for him. I put the idea out there that maybe I just wasn't all that relevant anymore, and he indicated that he agreed. I've been, frankly, pretty annoyed at the whole situation for awhile now. More recently, I tried to be part of another (completely unrelated) endeavor that also died a sad death amidst a bunch of disagreement over labels, theology, approaches, and "extras". I've also been feeling pretty negative and distant because of that situation. Last night, I was impressed by a comment made by an old friend that he was "practicing compassion for himself and someone who he is in conflict with". This got to me. Here's someone who...I don't know if he believes in Jesus or not...is putting caring and empathy towards someone in a situation where distance and self-centeredness might be the initial response. I think this is what Jesus would do. I think that I am learning, in small steps, to be more like Jesus.