Downtown Monroe |
Linda and I are home from a great week at our annual HSRM conference, plus four days of vacation in Holland, Michigan.
We did a workshop at the conference called "How to Counsel Struggling Relationships." One point we did not make is: When in conflict, speak for yourself. Do not bring other people into it.
Let's imagine persons X and Y are having a problem with something person Z does. X goes to Z, but Y does not. So far, so good, in the case of X.
X confront Z, but adds, "Y is upset with you, too."
Not good.
If Y is upset with Z, they need to lovingly confront Z themselves, instead of using X as their messenger.
When in conflict with someone, speak for yourself, not for others.
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My two books are:
Praying: Reflections on 40 Years of Solitary Conversations with God (May 2016)
Leading the Presence-Driven Church (January 2018)
I am now writing:
How God Changes the Human Heart
Technology and Spiritual Formation
And, Linda and I are talking about co-writing our book on Relationships.