Mr. Trouble II: The name itself alerted us to the possibilities of taking on our friend's Boston terrier. I was around the age of six when our family agreed to adopt Mr. Trouble from church friends who were to be deployed overseas. This small black and white bundle of energy with nerves of steel quickly stole our hearts. He adjusted well to our family of five and we soon accustomed ourselves to his antics. The only problem with this situation resulted from Benji, the black cocker spaniel next door.
Trouble, (for short) and Benji, kept up a running battle with each other and I do not exaggerate when I say "running battle". They hated each other from the moment they lay eyes on each other. It was quite a precarious situation to let Trouble out without first checking next door to see if the neighbors deemed it necessary for Benji to also take his business outdoors. If it so happened that both dogs were out at the same time, you could see them squaring off at each other.
Trouble lined up in the corner of our yard, scratching the ground with his paws like a Spanish bull, and Benji, lowered his head in the opposite corner of his yard, as if waiting for the signal to begin round one. In the middle they met like boxers in a ring and CLASH, SNARL, JUMP, REAR, GROWL AND BITE. No amount of hollering from any of us could dissuade them from their battle. After many attempts at various ways of safely and not so safely breaking up these dog fights, we came upon the idea of turning on the garden hose and soaking down the two antagonists. That seemed to do the trick until the next time both dogs went outside without a leash.
I've often wondered what makes certain dogs get along and others to be natural enemies. The same could be said of the human species. You know what I mean; sometimes you just naturally have an aversion to another person for no apparent reason other than they make your skin crawl and your blood pressure rise. I wish I remembered who authored a book about 'irregular people 'in your life. If I recall correctly, it dealt with this issue quite well.
How do you deal with conflict or that 'irregular person' in your life? Some folks naturally enjoy lining up on opposite sides of the yard just waiting for the right moment to:
Jump in and attack, usually with words that bite and snarl or actions that intentionally irritate, clash and cause unnecessary controversy.
Some may remember the old idiom, "fight or flight". Which applies to you?
Is your response to 'ignore it and it will go away?
Then there is the person who hurries down the other isle of the grocery store to avoid confrontation.
Some people just deny it's even a problem.
The Biblical account of David, the young shepherd turned warrior, grieved over his nemesis, King Saul, who sought at every turn to take his life. He tried everything he could to remedy the situation. (See 1and 2 Samuel in the Old Testament)
There are many other pairs of antagonists in Scripture: Cain and Able, Hannah and Peninah, Rachel and Leah, Jacob and Esau. Conflict remains as old as time.
"A soft answer turns away wrath" (Proverbs 15:1 KJV) surely did NOT work for Mr. Trouble and Benji. But would that plus, "Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. "(Luke 6:28 NIV) work with those irregular people in your life? Sometimes it does and sometimes, it just doesn't! I suppose we are to try anyway, no matter what the result of our efforts may be. After we've made an effort at all the remedies we know to get along with no results, we may need to drag out the garden hose and squirt some fresh cold water on the situation. This time of year with 100 degree temperatures, that might feel pretty good if you like that sorta thing. A cup of cold water in the Name of Jesus may just do the trick...or a glass of iced tea, or lemonade or even Diet Coke.
What I learned from Mr. Trouble II:
- conflict exists (sometimes for reasons beyond our comprehension)
- confidence in my ability to deal with it depends on the methods I incorporate
- Christ Jesus IS THE CUP OF COLD WATER SPLASHED IN MY FACE to remind me
Who is the Master
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