7/3/10 Bear Valley

Sometimes I'm not generous in my thoughts about others.

I can't say that I was today or even yesterday. But, here's the question. Can you be generous in your thoughts if someone has or is doing something --wrong, annoying, harmful to others? And if you are plain in your words, does that mean you are ungenerous? Is the truth, if not used to wound another as it's main intent, an anti-good deed?

I don't know, but I'm thinking about it.

One thought that arose for me--in the moment, you can say or think what's true--as long as you don't hang on to it. Sometimes a situation has to be resolved, but you can be generous by recognizing that the person is a child of God (however weird and annoying) just like you. Then you move into a resolution of the conflict with less harm to others.

Okay, I'm talking about the tall , skinny, terribly annoying man who comes into Nature's and tries to influence our customers--EVEN THOUGH HE'S BEEN ASKED NICELY NOT TO. I mean, yes it's annoying to have him at the store all day on Sunday. Yes, it's annoying that he asks personal questions about what you are eating and etc. I admit I don't think good thoughts about him. But . . . the behavior isn't pleasing to our customers and we may be losing business because of it. We have had complaints.

So .. . . . maybe the GD is .. . . decide how to handle the situation, while giving tall and skinny the benefit of being one of God's children. Like me. Ugg. Well, sorry but ugg.

In my primary relationship, I am doing better. Yesterday, Luke and I watched a video together. It was interesting in parts, but boring and even annoying in others--infact most of the video was boring and annoying. After we sat through 1 1/2 hrs, it was finally over and I asked Luke what he thought of it. In his most sarcastic way, he told me that silence was better than words. At first I was angry and annoyed. Then, I thought, he's entitled to be silent and to not want to waste more time on the boring parts of the video. So, I went on with my evening--washing dishes and etc.

Later that evening, Luke brought up the video. We laughed and laughed. We made all kinds of mean jokes. And I learned that it's so much better to let people be in their own rhythms. Especially if you're married to them.