Let Go Of The Rope

The Stoics had an answer to personal conflict: “Let go of the rope,” They were thinking of the ancient game we call “Tug of War,” a test of strength in which we try to pull people over to our side.    Some conversations are like that—tests of the strength of our wills. But the moment one player relinquishes power—lets go of the rope—it’s game over!   Paul writes, "When insulted, we return a blessing; when persecuted, we endure it patiently, when insulted, we answer softly" (1Corinthians 4:12,13).     So… the next time you find yourself in a verbal tug of war, and tempers start to flare, stop tugging and let the rope slip through your fingers: Lapse into silence. Agree with your brother, if you can. Reply to an insult with a kind word. Return a soft answer. Give good for evil. (Or, like Dostoyevsky’s Alyosha, lean forward and surprise your brother with a kiss!)   Funny how quickly things change when you just let go of the rope!   David Roper 9.5.20