ADVICE DAD NEVER GAVE YOU

Ralph Sorter

   Have you ever experienced the tension between two extremes and neither one was all it was cracked up to be?  I’m talking about tension of doing things the way someone else wants it versus doing it your own way.  Extremes are almost always bad. 

   A household where the man is King and everyone jumps when his fingers snap is no fun to live under.  Neither is a household where the Queen bee mortally stings her servants when she’s through with them.

   We can take that only so long and then we rebel and do things the way we want them.  But Ralph Waldo Emerson discovered that isn’t perfect either.  He said, “As long as a man stands in his own way, everything seems to be in his way.”  Sorry for hitting below the belt, but I think having things our own way leads to problems.

   Problems like too much indulgence, selfishness, and walking over others.  It also results in blind spots.  What we think is best may not be what we really need.

   I’ve found the best mirror is an old friend.  In spite of the fact that Tim Fickess roots for the wrong football team, when I really need to talk and get an honest outside look at my problems, I seek him out.  It’s amazing how accurate vision is when it’s not looking through rose colored glasses.  (By the way, our own glasses have a distinct red hew to them!)

   There’s safety in many counselors Proverbs says.  But here’s the caution: Don’t seek out many counselors and then throw out those who don’t agree with you!  You didn’t eliminate your blind spots if you do that.  Blessed is the friend that speaks on behalf of God!

A Message from HOPE’S

Marriage & Family Ministry

ADVICE DAD NEVER GAVE YOU

Ralph Sorter

   Have you ever experienced the tension between two extremes and neither one was all it was cracked up to be?  I’m talking about tension of doing things the way someone else wants it versus doing it your own way.  Extremes are almost always bad. 

   A household where the man is King and everyone jumps when his fingers snap is no fun to live under.  Neither is a household where the Queen bee mortally stings her servants when she’s through with them.

   We can take that only so long and then we rebel and do things the way we want them.  But Ralph Waldo Emerson discovered that isn’t perfect either.  He said, “As long as a man stands in his own way, everything seems to be in his way.”  Sorry for hitting below the belt, but I think having things our own way leads to problems.

   Problems like too much indulgence, selfishness, and walking over others.  It also results in blind spots.  What we think is best may not be what we really need.

   I’ve found the best mirror is an old friend.  In spite of the fact that Tim Fickess roots for the wrong football team, when I really need to talk and get an honest outside look at my problems, I seek him out.  It’s amazing how accurate vision is when it’s not looking through rose colored glasses.  (By the way, our own glasses have a distinct red hew to them!)

   There’s safety in many counselors Proverbs says.  But here’s the caution: Don’t seek out many counselors and then throw out those who don’t agree with you!  You didn’t eliminate your blind spots if you do that.  Blessed is the friend that speaks on behalf of God!

A Message from HOPE’S

Marriage & Family Ministry

ADVICE DAD NEVER GAVE YOU

Ralph Sorter

   Have you ever experienced the tension between two extremes and neither one was all it was cracked up to be?  I’m talking about tension of doing things the way someone else wants it versus doing it your own way.  Extremes are almost always bad. 

   A household where the man is King and everyone jumps when his fingers snap is no fun to live under.  Neither is a household where the Queen bee mortally stings her servants when she’s through with them.

   We can take that only so long and then we rebel and do things the way we want them.  But Ralph Waldo Emerson discovered that isn’t perfect either.  He said, “As long as a man stands in his own way, everything seems to be in his way.”  Sorry for hitting below the belt, but I think having things our own way leads to problems.

   Problems like too much indulgence, selfishness, and walking over others.  It also results in blind spots.  What we think is best may not be what we really need.

   I’ve found the best mirror is an old friend.  In spite of the fact that Tim Fickess roots for the wrong football team, when I really need to talk and get an honest outside look at my problems, I seek him out.  It’s amazing how accurate vision is when it’s not looking through rose colored glasses.  (By the way, our own glasses have a distinct red hew to them!)

   There’s safety in many counselors Proverbs says.  But here’s the caution: Don’t seek out many counselors and then throw out those who don’t agree with you!  You didn’t eliminate your blind spots if you do that.  Blessed is the friend that speaks on behalf of God!

A Message from HOPE’S

Marriage & Family Ministry