Bruised Reeds

Everyday, I get an email reflection from the Henri Nouwen Society. Reading these reflections help me keep God in mind at the start of each manic work day. Here's a reflection from last week which I found particularly striking.

Not Breaking the Bruised Reeds

Some of us tend to do away with things that are slightly damaged. Instead of repairing them we say: "Well, I don't have time to fix it, I might as well throw it in the garbage can and buy a new one." Often we also treat people this way. We say: "Well, he has a problem with drinking; well, she is quite depressed; well, they have mismanaged their business...we'd better not take the risk of working with them." When we dismiss people out of hand because of their apparent woundedness, we stunt their lives by ignoring their gifts, which are often buried in their wounds.

We all are bruised reeds, whether our bruises are visible or not. The compassionate life is the life in which we believe that strength is hidden in weakness and that true community is a fellowship of the weak.

I find that sometimes very unconsciously, I dismiss people too. It's not so much a snobbery thing as it is a genetically encoded impatience with things that don't work or which I deem are illogical. I don't know why but it is just second nature to click my heels and walk away to avoid the confrontation which will ensue when I speak my mind or put it to them.

When people at work have a track record of screwing things up or being unreliable, I don't bellyache but instinctively avoid asking them to do anything again. Where someone has a track record of being rude/pompous/difficult/irritating, I just avoid talking to them as far as practicable so I won't risk losing my temper or waste my time getting locked in conflict.

Seldom do I make the effort to brush aside the annoyance and dig deeper to see if their behaviour is the result of woundedness and attempt to draw them out or help them improve. Too often, I am too busy whizzing about to dash to meet someone/ do something else.

It's given me something to think about this Lent.

the fool for Christ