This Is Not A Hallmark Life

If you missed the Countdown To Christmas marathon on the Hallmark channel, with the barrage of Christmas flicks, you've missed some really good movies. Of course, their always seems to be a build-up to some sort of relational conflict between the growing love and affection of two people, who are an unlikely pair; at least if you were to ask the two of them.

Sometimes, the conflict appears to be truly something that would cause a real-life hurdle in one's relationship, but for the most part, they seem to be light misunderstandings. Granted, these movie relationships run on truncated timetables, from not standing each other to falling for each other in a matter of days or weeks, so there's that.

But the real-life analogy is how quickly the most unsuspecting and unassuming of situations and misunderstanding can create conflict among friends, co-workers and others affected by one's authority or decisions. As a result, relationships, whatever their nature, become strained and challenging; more or less troublesome to both parties.

The cool part with the movies is that they are quickly resolved. The truth of the conflict comes to light and an effort is made to resolve it quickly and bring understanding to the one who didn't have the full story.

The sad part with reality, is that such resolution is not rectified in a matter of minutes, but remain in limbo, for days, weeks, months and years. Misunderstandings of many kinds and varying degrees loom overhead and navigating them can be more difficult than they should be and take infinitely longer to sort through than what one would reasonably expect or assume.

So, on this #associatePastorTuesday, pray that the conflicts that arise in churches and their leadership teams would be "short-lived". Pray that misunderstandings would be clarified quickly and promptly. May challenges and difficulties be overcome. Pray for wisdom and discernment; that understanding would be at the forefront of the conversation, with a goal and a pursuit of resolution. Pray that conflict would not destroy and ruin the people and relationships that are involved, but that they would be made stronger and greater as a result.

May what was intended to damage and harm
Be used to bring glory and honor to God
As they work to advance the cause of Christ.
For the health of the church and the kingdom of God.

- PNC