Five Minute Friday: Disagree

 I wrote this post (in approximately five minutes) in response to a one-word prompt (disagree) from Kate Motaung. For more information and to read other posts, visit www.fiveminutefriday.com

Disagreements are unavoidable, aren’t they? When they arise, I remind myself of these four bits of wise counsel:

(1) “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity [love]” (circa 1627).

(2) “Say what you mean, mean what you say, but don’t be mean when you say it.” (I don’t know the source, but a fellow member of the Toastmasters club I attend shares that advice when it’s time to evaluate speeches made during the meeting.)

(3) “A soft answer turns away wrath, / But a harsh word stirs up anger" (Proverbs 15:1, NKJV).

(4) "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people” (Romans 12:18, CSB).

Yes!

When my friend said, “Johnnie, I need to ask a favor,” I laughed and said, “My answer is Yes.”

“But,” she protested, “you don’t even know what I need you to do.”

“Whatever you need me to do, I will do—if it is in my power to do it.”

Even though we were talking on the phone, I smiled anyway as I said, “For you, my answer is always Yes!”

And that was the truth. Because she’s a wonderful friend who’s always doing the sweetest, kindest things for my family and me, I would never think of saying No when she asked a favor.

A few days later, that conversation was still on my mind. As I reflected on it, I thought about two passages in the Bible that show two dramatically different responses people made to God.

In Isaiah 66:4, God says:

I also will choose harsh treatment for them

and bring their fears upon them,

because when I called,

no one answered,

when I spoke, they did not listen;

but they did what was evil in my eyes

and chose that in which

I did not delight.

Isaiah 6:8 records a conversation between God and Isaiah.

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying,

“Whom shall I send [as a messenger],

and who will go for us?”

And then I said,

“Here I am! Send me.”

The first passage makes me feel sad every time I read it, and I wonder, How could anyone ignore God?  (Sadly, I often do.) The second passage inspires me to always want to say a glad Yes! to God—no matter what He asks because He continually showers steadfast love and abundant mercies on me. How could I even think of saying No to Him?

Logs outside a hotel in Banff, Alberta, Canada