I’m sure you are as happy as I that the current political campaign is over. “Oh, what a relief it is.” This afternoon our present Massachusetts governor and our governor elect had a joint press conference. Being that they are of different parties some members of the press pressed them with questions like, “During the campaign some harsh words were spoken. What…” Our present governor immediately and continually cut them off with the following response. “The campaign is over.” He must have repeated it a half dozen times until the press got the message. “The campaign is over.”
That is a class act that should be emulated by all of us. We have all had conflicts with others. But there comes a time to stop. There comes a time to say, “It’s over” and get on with a productive relationship. Why do we so often hang on to slights or worse and let those things make us miserable for years that follow? When we stop and think about it, if we really think about it, it is stupid because we are then making our own lives miserable. It isn’t the other. It is us. We are doing it to ourselves.
Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.…” Your life will be better. The other’s life will be better. Everyone wins. Jesus knows us so well. Christianity is about the quality of life, now and forever. Don’t forget the now part. “The campaign is over.”
Written by Roger Bothwell on November 6, 2014
Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwwell.org