Letter 7: Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Dear Omobolanle,
How are you? Have you been sleeping well? You know how much I like to do good work in the silence of the night? (actually it's not exactly silent; the frogs make their pesky croaking noises. You know, it's the rainy season here.) Anyway, I think I have been sleeping a lot more. In fact, my eyes begin to protest with me when midnight comes. Can you imagine? So, lately I just give in and go to bed. I don't think it's anything to worry about. The body just needs to rest. As they say, body no be firewood.
Here's what was on my mind yesterday. Let me share it with you.
If you were part of a process, you would be more forgiving towards those who were in it as well. I mean those who were in it, working with you.
An example is cooking. Say you're in a restaurant. You have made your order, and now you have to wait for the food to be made. There's a possibility that you would grow impatient after a while and grumble, wondering and asking, “Why is the food taking so long to reach here?”
However, if you could (emphasis on could) step into the kitchen and not just observe but roll up your sleeves and be a part of the cooking, you may still be angry at how slow the process is, but you would be more forgiving and speak more kindly towards the chef and cooks because you are a part of the process and can now see that it is most likely not their fault.
I think this applies to politics too. You know, from outside, it is easy to be impatient and scream and shout at the people at the top. Yes. The anger can many-a-time be valid, but the way the situation is approached by the “outsiders” could be better. And I think it would be approached better if they were a part of the "inside."
Also, it could apply to infirmity and despair. When you have felt what another person felt in some way—either directly or by proxy—you are likely to speak about/to and approach the circumstance differently. There's something that happens to us when we are in the arena.
Perhaps it is why it is comforting that our God became a man (John 1: 14). Truly man. We do not serve a God who is in total disconnect from his creation. He is not like some thunder god who sits in his grove, snaps twixt rainbows, and watches in aloofness and perhaps amusement as the subjects scamper as justice suffers below.
We do not have a high priest who is out of touch with our reality. No. We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16)
It is comforting to know that Jesus knows our every weakness. So, take it to the Lord in prayer.
It is well with you.
Yours in highs and lows
Uncle Akin