Understanding and Accepting Common Human Insanity

To reach the head of someone is to reach themgetting into someone's psyche is an inside job, literally.
pre-heart - their heart remains, unconvinced. Yet, toWe cannot do it apart from our tacit influence. And
reach their head is a massive task and their verythen we add time and prayer to that mix, hoping
humanity will struggle tooth and nail against it.that God will tip a miracle of reason into the mind of
~Author's Own.the afflicted.
We are maddening creatures, truly we are. Ask anyThe main point is it's insane to expect to change
parent who forever prays they might 'get through' topeople, especially people who cannot yet decide, or
their child. Or ask the employer who must harp andwho haven't discovered, how to change themselves,
harp and harp for their employees to work safely.or that that's even needed.
Finally, there's that person we know who's stillDo we see here that we are practicing insanity by
searching spiritually - they take years of investigatingnot understanding and accepting the insanity of
'faith' and are still no closer to committing.humanity's nature?
These are insane situations - but they are just asOthers' Transformation is Beyond Us
equally 'us' as anything. We're all prone toTransformation truly is a God-blessed reality and truly
stubbornness; it just depends on the issue. Yet,only God can do it, through a willingly compliant
some are more stubborn than others.individual.
And, still again, we will only convince ourselves! - GodAnd, still, we're expected to play our inferred part.
revealing same to us, changing our thinking.Parent/teacher/employer/spiritual adviser, knowing
Four Peoplethis above surely now infuses us with patience - we
1. The rebellious child.do not have the sort of control we thought we
2. The drug addict.might have. We also do not have the sort of
3. The nonchalant employee.responsibility for others' transformation that we
4. The confused spiritual/God-searcher.often pressure ourselves with.
All of these above have their issues. They staunchlyThis is not a cop-out; it's an important acceptance
hold values and beliefs - as we should - but thesethat aligns us with others' genuine plight.
against the prevailing wisdom of those who knowThis should help relieve the pressure. Our role is
better.defined. We are patient because we know how
We must reach their heads on an intellectual levelmuch we and they are relying on God.
before we can hope to penetrate their hearts. (AndAnd this is peace for us; a pure, God-intended peace.
from 'head to heart' alone can take years!) But© 2010 S. J. Wickham.