Pastor John,
I sure appreciate Gary’s articulate, insightful, and brutally honest explanation of his experience in Laying it Down: laying down the need to prove one’s rightness.
I am fortunate (very blessed) to finally have a wife who is so self-aware and honest and correctable that we seldom have major disagreements. And I have grown to be the same; very open and willing to admit my wrong viewpoint. If/when we do have a quarrel; we resolve them quickly with full transparency and forgiveness.
Laying down my “factual” arguments has been a step in the right direction for averting strife in our relationship. I know I might be “right” based on my research or influenced perhaps by the algorithms I see continually that support my point of view. But lately, she and I have realized it’s just a bunch of opinions out there, and whether or not she sees a more Liberal perspective and I a more conservative one, it isn’t worth getting in the flesh and arguing about it. Most things we do agree on, and for that, we’re both grateful to God for our companionship. I thank God that Allison is a very communicative woman.
It feels GOOD to lay down our “arms” and ammunition and just LIVE in the SPIRIT of LOVE.
There is, indeed, healing in that, as Gary said.
Your lesson last night was thrilling by the points that you emphasized! I want to listen to it again and again.
Brad