In a crisis, things seem like they will never end. Remember your thoughts during the middle of any war. Initially the issues were clear. Quickly the mood shifted into uncertainty about the cause and the will to triumph. As the preliminary winner begins to triumph the timeline takes on a new perspective. If one looks back, no matter what your views were at the time, the rationale become less clear, the timeline more compressed, and the uncertainty as to where everyone actually stood or stands is only beginning to grow!
Take the same analytical process and apply it to a relationship challenge that has been resolved. In my experience one will find the same conclusions. The real causes of the conflict are less clear, the timelines far more compressed than it seemed to be at the time and the stability of the relationship far more unclear. Any area with two viewpoints brings out similar results. These include political debates, humanitarian causes, economic decisions, corporate conflicts, or social injustice. What are the issues? Why are we fighting? Is anything ever going to be different?
Embedded in the questioning is the haunting question of turning corners in life. Will we ever realize the balanced relationships we seek? Can we find the peace we long for? Is acceptance and love always going to be beyond our reach?
Even in the spiritual view of our experience and journey you find the same questions. Far too many give clich? answers instead of struggling with the details in between. What is the cause? How long will the conflict last? Why is the conflict ending? What’s next?
John notes a corner that we will reach. I find that the beginning answers are there for those willing to hear. “The seventh Angel poured his bowl into the air: From the Throne in the Temple came a shout, “Done!” followed by lightning flashes and shouts, thunder crashes and a colossal earthquake—a huge and devastating earthquake, never an earthquake like it since time began.” (Revelation 16.17) The question is, do I want anything to change?
