Injustice

what do you do when you are unjustly accused?

what do you do when people don’t like you or don’t respect you…and it’s based on wrong assumptions or misinformation about you or your actions?

what do you do when your motives are called into question…by people who really don’t know your motives or intentions at all?

what do you say to yourself  (or others) when a false statement or report about you is being passed around…and you are powerless to stop the flow or the fallout?

you know,  there are some people who can let that kind stuff roll off their back with a nonchalant “whatever”. there are others  (like yours truly)  who run the risk of obsessing over the whole event.

truth is,  i care about what people think.   i care about my reputation.   i care deeply about the truth and that i am accurately portrayed.   i care that my life makes a difference and my integrity is above reproach.   i’m not perfect.   i will freely admit to mistakes and sins and lapses in judgment and poor decisions.   i’m not afraid of that.

but when i’m accused of those transgressions unfairly, my confidence is always undermined and my spirit is always wounded.

hey.   i’ll say it again.   i’m not perfect.

over the years,  though,  it has gotten better.   waaaaaaay better.   in fact,  i’m usually able to take most of those injustices in stride pretty easily anymore…

we live in a fallen world.   one of the absolute certainties of living in imperfection is injustice.   it’s why we cultivate deep,  healthy relationships with as many people as we can handle.   real friends will give you the benefit of the doubt.   real friends will believe the best in you until it is absolutely proven otherwise.

and then they’ll come directly to you with their concerns.

real friends won’t walk out of your life because they have concluded they know your motives and actions and deemed you unworthy of their friendship.   real friends don’t make assumptions.   real friends talk and listen and reserve judgment.

i hope you are building friendships like that.

i hope you are becoming that kind of friend to as many as possible.

#friendship #injustice