Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Smoothing the Edges

Have you ever felt like someone or something was rubbing you the wrong way?  I have and it can feel very uncomfortable.  But if I stop and ponder why I'm feeling uncomfortable or even angry about the rubbing I some times realize that I did have some rough edges that needed smoothing out.

Now I'm not saying that everything or everyone who rubs me wrong is for my good.  Some times that is just a way of discovering that that thing or person was not necessarily good for me.

The point I'm trying to make is that at times like this I'm discovering that the important thing for my growth and maturing is taking the time to decipher whether the rubbing is something good or something bad.

I used to think that all that rubbing was my fault because I had been characterized as a porcupine and some people thought it was their job to take the sharp edge off of my quills.  However, there was a part of me that saw my porcupine quills as a defense mechanism to keep from getting hurt.  I didn't realize that some of the people I was trying to keep away were actually people that I needed in my life to help me become the person I was meant to be and who God meant me to be.

Yes, I do need some of those quills sanded down and smoothed out but I also need some sharp ones to protect myself as well.

As I noted earlier, what I need to keep in the forefront of my heart and mind is whether the rubbing I'm receiving will make my life better or worse.  That isn't always an easy thing to determine but as I make a concerted effort to distinguish between the two early enough I will come out a winner with some smooth edges and some rough edges.

Do you have someone or something rubbing you the wrong way (or is it the right way)?  Think about it.

Be blessed and encouraged as you go about your day.

1 comment:

  1. I've often noticed when something or someone rubs me the wrong way, it tends to reveal the imperfection in my own soul.

    As I mature and experience more inward healing, I'm learning to be more relaxed with those rubbings. They are not any more pleasant, but now I recognize they are signs of places He's interested in reshaping into His image. And I'm okay with that.

    I'm reminded of that old mystic's words: 'All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.' ~ Dame Julian of Norwich

    ReplyDelete