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So You Have Enemies?
By Steve Goodier
A knight returned to his castle at twilight. He was a mess. His
armor was dented, his helmet askew, his face was bloody, his
horse was limping and he listed to one side in the saddle. His
lord met him at the gate, asking, "What has befallen you, Sir
Knight?"
Straightening himself up as best he could, he replied, "Oh,
Sire,
I have been laboring in your service, robbing and burning and
pillaging your enemies to the west."
"You have been what?" cried the startled nobleman. "But I
haven't
any enemies to the west!"
"Oh!" said the knight. And then, after a pause, "Well, I think
you do now."
What about you? Enemies to the west? Or the north, or the south,
or the east? None of us will calmly sail through our lives in
perfect harmony with everyone we meet. And though most conflict
can be resolved along the way, and most of our bruised
relationships can eventually be healed, some passionate issues
may threaten to drive a permanent wedge between people.
Heartfelt
moral and political stances, especially, can polarize folks who
just as passionately hold differing positions.
Former U.S. Ambassador Claire Booth Luce once observed: "I don't
have a warm personal enemy left. They've all died off. I miss
them terribly because they helped define me."
So-called "enemies" can serve a valuable purpose. If we let
them, they can teach us about ourselves. By holding a mirror
before us, they can help us see what we may have missed. By
disagreeing with our heartfelt convictions, they can sharpen our
points of view. And, if we allow it, they can unwittingly help
us
practice strength and compassion in the face of criticism.
If enemies cannot become friends, they can become teachers. If
we
listen, they will teach us what our friends cannot.
About The Author:
Steve Goodier Publisher@LifeSupportSystem is a professional speaker, consultant and author of numerous books. He has become a global voice of inspiration. Visit his site for more information, or to sign up for his free ezine at LifeSupportSystem.com.
Get his eBook "Laughing All the Way" for free ($4.95 value) at Click Here. Just enter the code "free" (without quotes) as you check out.
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