Symptoms

It is far too easy to diagnose and opine symptoms than to grasp, understand, and deal with the root cause.  Most relationship fights and breaks swirl around symptoms.  Arguments develop and morph into things far more sinister because symptoms are treated individually.  I believe that the strength of an individual and any institution lies in the degree to which it can openly, candidly, and completely deal with the problems it has.  It will be in the trend towards grasping and dealing with the “problems” within that one knows how healthy things are.  It is in this process most of our growth and maturity breaks down.  We can not, will not, and do not handle the truth.
 
The obvious reason lies in the logic which says we are unprepared for the reality which stares back towards us every morning in the mirror.  Given the false pictures we paint of ourselves there is clearly some truth in this.  However it goes far deeper than our denials of aging, lack of sympathy and empathy, or even the arrogance we like to wear.  The simple back is we lack belief and confidence in others.  We refuse to accept the premises of community, everyone winning, and true equality.  One of Divinity’s more amazing gifts is the ability to see this in ourselves.  One of the arrows in God’s gift was and is the life of Jesus.  Ironically seeing things in the flesh didn’t matter.  The Spirit continues to reveal to how “their [our] refusal to believe in me [Jesus] is their basic sin.” (John 16.9)
 
Today we have the opportunity to see things the way they really are, warts and all.  Our thirst for recognition, hunger for relationship, and fear of rejection doesn’t need to shape every action.  We can revel in God’s gift, understand our value in and through God, and see how we are already part of Divinity’s family.  There is hope that responds to what drives us within.  Our symptoms may not change but we can, from the inside out.  We can vessels for hope, mercy, and love.