Forbearance

What’s so bad about being Mallory anyway? She means well.

Lately I have been letting people off the hook if I think their intentions were good at the time they made a mistake or a bad decision.

I know that when God judges us, sin is sin, regardless of our intentions, but what about as we bear with each other? Should our intentions count?

Randy nurtured a pet project a few years ago that demonstrated some very interesting potential, but it never found its business realization. He eventually found a way to resurrect it when the business was ready.

Work proceeded, but when the time came to put the system to the test, there were obstacles preventing it from being made real once again.

Some people argued it was unwise to proceed. Randy insisted it was the only way we could go forward, not just the preferred way.

I was convinced.

A struggle ensued; a stand-off, actually.

Was Randy too attached to his pet project to make a good decision? Maybe. But did he make decisions with good intentions? Probably.

After years cultivating the idea, surely he must believe it really is the right thing to do. So, Randy escapes blame.

If someone is doing what they honestly feel is right, I must forgive them, even when they are clearly wrong.

This means you’re free too, Siman.

And there may even be hope for Mallory…one day.

Apt

Right before she left on vacation, Mallory drew a picture on the white board in her cube, a picture of herself in a beach chair not thinking about work, not missing anyone. She came back to find her peaceful scene in a mess. There was rain and there were sharks. She was sunburned and the island was under missile attack. Someone had even left a personal note.

“Manipulative bitch”

Why don’t people just say what they really mean?

Actually, sometimes they do. Sometimes, I do. And we tend to think that as long as everyone is laughing, we’re getting by with it.

I know who wrote that on Mallory’s board, and I know it wasn’t the first time harsh words passed between them. They were always laughing, but maybe they meant every word.

Now and then I say the very thing I mean, even if it is unkind. Speaking the truth can actually make the truth less believable.

Some things we assume no one would ever say out loud. Saying these very things can actually create a win-win situation for everyone. It gives relief to me, just having spoken it, and it liberates you. Surely your suspicions can’t be true because I have just said it, and no one would ever say that if they really meant it.

I doubt he was trying to liberate me today, but Cramer said I am manipulative, and I am.

Too much of a good thing

I almost never remember my dreams, and I was starting to wonder what I was missing. Based on about 15 minutes of research, I prescribed myself a vitamin B-6 supplement every day and a reminder every night to remember. So far it’s working.

As it turns out, though, I wasn’t really missing anything. Most nights I just reel through a series of meaningless scenes.

I know some dream analysts argue that your dreams can reveal secret fears or desires, so here’s one for you. What does my pouring olive oil on and preparing to eat the front seat of a convertible 1970s looking Cadillac that can also fly and is 700 years old say about me? Analyze away!

The best one was when I dreamed I had woken up and gotten ready for work, only to find out an hour later that I had actually turned off the alarm clock, gone back to sleep, and dreamed the whole thing. I couldn’t believe none of that had actually happened!

Isn’t it weird that our dreams can be so real? Have you ever had a dream about someone and actually experienced something so real that is affected your relationship with them the next day?

Where do dreams fall in the scope if sin? Are we responsible for them?

If we were able to tell ourselves what to dream about, then I suppose we would be responsible. Or if dreams really are indications of the desires of our sinful nature, then we are responsible.

I think I'm probably going to lay off the B-6.

There's Something About Elvis

Two of you are convinced you are Elvis, and you’re both wrong. But clearly, there’s something about Elvis that makes everyone want to be him.

All you know about him is what I have written in this blog. Let’s recap:

(1) He knows his issues and keeps them under control.
(2) He contributed to these theories by being the way he is.
(3) I don’t know what his root sin is.
(4) He likes balance.

And that is all that I have made clear. You would have to be reading between my lines to realize the rest.

I suspect it is his self-control that you like. I have said before that we all love to be or feel in control. You like the idea of being someone who controls himself. More specifically, you want to be someone who controls your issues, and therefore you like and want to be Elvis. Interesting.