From Gary... Gettin' along

Gettin' along

In the early 70's, I had just started my first job in the field of the sciences- an entry level quality control technician position.  I worked in a temperature and humidity controlled room testing various raw materials used in the production of coated products like sandpaper and emery cloth.  Most of the day, there were only two of us in this area, but on rare occasions there might be three.  Things went fine for a few months, then one day, George (not his real name) refused to speak to me; not even to tell me why.  This was difficult for me, as I love to talk and being alone in a room all day in silence is torture.  I did everything I could to get George to "get over it".  After a couple of months of silence, I just gave up and didn't try any more.  I was living in a silent hell, but I was determined to do something about it.  Since George wouldn't even say "Hi", I didn't either.  I would just nod and be polite when appropriate.  After a few more months in silence, one day George said "Hi" and after a few more months things were "OK".  Once in awhile, we even went out to lunch together.  He never did tell me the "why" of all this- he just became my friend.  And sometimes that will just have to do!!!!  People are funny, some times you run up against a brick wall and feel like the Elephant in the picture, but other times, you become fast friends like the dog and the Elephant in the above video entitled "Gettin' along".  Now, the story I told is true and those were days before I became a Christian.  But Christians have problems too as the following chapter from Paul's first letter to the Corinthians will show...

1 Corinthians, Chapter 3

 1 Brothers, I couldn’t speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Christ.  2 I fed you with milk, not with meat; for you weren’t yet ready. Indeed, not even now are you ready,  3 for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren’t you fleshly, and don’t you walk in the ways of men?  4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you fleshly?  5 Who then is Apollos, and who is Paul, but servants through whom you believed; and each as the Lord gave to him?  6 I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are the same, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.  9 For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s farming, God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each man be careful how he builds on it.  11 For no one can lay any other foundation than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ.  12 But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or stubble;  13 each man’s work will be revealed. For the Day will declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself will test what sort of work each man’s work is.  14 If any man’s work remains which he built on it, he will receive a reward.  15 If any man’s work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as through fire. 

  16  Don’t you know that you are a temple of God, and that God’s Spirit lives in you?  17 If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, which you are.  18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise.  19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He has taken the wise in their craftiness.”  20 And again, “The Lord knows the reasoning of the wise, that it is worthless.”  21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, 22 whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come. All are yours,  23 and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

Disharmony hurts; I know!!!  If just a fellow worker could cause so much pain, imagine the problems that can occur when the other fellow is a Christian.  Bad news!!!  I wish I had all the answers to human interaction, but I don't.  I am a male of the species and therefore not as attune to the feelings of others as the ladies are.  But, I can try- even if it hurts, even if it feels like I am banging my head against a brick wall (here we go with the Elephant again)!!!  That is the thing about learning to love your fellow human being-- you just keep trying to be the best friend they will allow you to be and learn to accept the consequences.  Who knows, one day you may find you have an inseparable friend!!!