Wrinkles to me are when we act or are acted upon with out understanding the intent or reason of the other person.
Down right sins or corruption are more like pleats in the fabric. Pleats, I believe, the Lord expects us to do our part to work out the hard pressed creases in the fabric. As we make amends or retribution soon we are left with a wrinkle that the Lord can work with.
This week I was noticing how at my "New to Me" house the blessed winter rains have really got the weeds active. I spent a day spraying them and another digging them. Then the mouth dropping sight of looking out back into the alley at the weeds and grass.
I spent a few days contemplating what I could do about them. Then it hit me. I have little lawn mowers that I could haul over here and they would enjoy the fresh greens and I could help out all my neighbors by attending to their weeds also.
So I went and loaded up five. These little ones never bawl out. They are quite and gentle. Small but can eat down a field fast. I figured they would have it gone in two days.
I let them out in the alley and put up a sign on each gate with a phone number to contact about the calves.
After a couple of hours I got my first call. A neighbor down in what I call the other half of the "I" . See my alley runs east and west but in the middle it runs north and south like a "T" but at the other end it runs east and west again so it looks like a capital I. Anyway she was so excited to have all the weeds gone. She told me how she does take care of her area but not every one does. We talked about how the city owns the alleys but we are to maintain them for trash and fire hazards.
When she explained where she lived I had notice that she had already mowed her part. I also remembered she is one if the many gardeners in the area, so like me, I don't want these weeds to go to seed.
My heart was in the right place. But the next call I got was from animal control. Dad gum. Seems I am trespassing and I need to move my babies. I go and get my trailer and by the time I get there she has an police officer there also. She is hot under the collar but the cop is as cool as a cucumber.
These two are perfect example of wrinkles. She could see nothing but my blatant disregard for the law. Seems while I got nothing but positive feed back from neighbors (as I loaded them to leave a few more neighbors introduced themselves and said this was a great idea) she got one call from the one who didn't like my good intentions. She wanted nothing to do with me. She treated me as a common thief for running cattle on city property.
But the police officer wanted to know why I did this unlawful act. He was very interested in my motives. He listened, interjected, and understood my intentions. He told me that he had been on plenty of calls but I win for the weirdest one so far.
As he left he said he wasn't going to give me a ticket but when he turned in his report his commander may say otherwise. So to me another wrinkle may appear. There is a third person who may have to "press" this matter when they haven't heard my side.
Heard my side.
That is where my anxiety for the Lords mercy and grace comes into play.
The animal control officer had preconceived notion to my disobedience. She heard me but didn't care to listen.
The police officer had heard her side first but listened to my side and found that I wasn't a thief but just a neighbor and cow lover.
I made a unwise choice. It was an unselfish choice. I was thinking of my neighbors and of course my cattle.
What starts out as a wrinkle. A misunderstanding. Can turn into a pleat when we decide to not see from another's point of view. We don't have to agree with them to be able to see from their angle. We just need to understand their intentions and feelings. Or worse if we don't even let them speak. We have decided on our own why they did it and we don't have time or the energy to invest in their intentions.
The officer said if he returns to give me a ticket I will have to go before a judge.
Yes I understand that fully.
I feel a wrinkle that has been happening for years has turned into a pleat and this pleat is going before a judge. I have only asked to be heard. To understand my intentions. Not agreed with them. Only mediate a wrinkle.
I am excited to have this pleat examined. Because I truly believe as the pleat is worked on we can reverse our personal side back to a wrinkle even though the other party might still be left holding a pleat if they don't open their heart to what is said.
My prayer for myself is that I see all my wrinkles, reverse all my pleats, and receive the warming of the Lord's Grace and Mercy.
Two verses from the song we sang today in Relief Society
Redeemer Of Israel
How long we have wandered
As strangers in sin
And cried in the desert for thee!
Our foes have rejoiced
When our sorrows they’ve seen,
But Israel will shortly be free.
Restore, my dear Savior,
The light of thy face;
Thy soul-cheering comfort impart;
And let the sweet longing
For thy holy place
Bring hope to my desolate heart.
No comments:
Post a Comment