Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.
James 1:19
There are those who seem to enjoy offending people. There are those who seem to take great joy in being loudly offended. Yet what does this prove? That we have chosen to remain in childhood perhaps? That we choose to through temper tantrums as children on a playground? Honestly, I do not believe that is the intent, rather, perhaps we have forgotten one simple fact: While we all occupy this blue marble in the cosmos, we are individuals who have been gifted with the ability to think and decide for ourselves. And it would seem that we have forgotten a piece of wisdom: Be quick to listen...Slow to speak...slow to anger.
How many have decided, upon hearing some opinion, to bypass all of that and go straight to being angry. Not just angry, but very loudly angry. Why? Because we seem to have forgotten the truth of the matter, which is simple: If I disagree with something you post, I have the power to NOT read it. If I disagree with someone in political office, I have the power to exercise my vote. If I disagree with some sports personality, I have the power to simply change the channel or not attend events where that personality will be present.
We MUST learn that we must be quick to hear (which includes pondering the truth), Slow to speak (if what I have to say is not a beneficial resolution, why say it?), and Slow to Anger (what purpose does it serve if I am a hothead who becomes vocally indignant?). We must learn that, as adults, we have been called to engage in discourse to seek mutually acceptable solutions. The Apostle Paul said, "When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things." Children are prone to tantrums when they don't get their way, yet parents teach their children to learn better methods of dealing with difficult situations...or at least parents should be teaching this.
When do we stop all the bickering and learn to discuss?
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