‘Let them’
Open Letter
‘Let them’
March 25
There's a best selling book out at the moment called 'Let Them'... Ex lawyer and celebrity life-coach Mel Robbins has introduced the theory of 'letting go'. I read Mel's book on pre-release because I was intrigued as to how it might help me to help others in their daily life. I have been delighted to discover that it resonates with my faith. On a recent train journey three people around me had it as their book and I couldn't help but smile.
I have spent my life trying to perfect the 'Let Them' technique but I would recognise it as 'let go and let God'. It was modelled by Jesus in Matthew 18 (verses 15-17 for those that are into it!). John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church taught about it in his Sermon 'The Cure of Evil Speaking' in the 18th Century.
To me, Jesus is saying: Go to the source and do what you can without sharing with anyone else behind that person's back, if you need help or if seeing the person puts you at risk, then go to a trusted friend who has no bias of their own and see together if you can communicate. If the person who has caused you pain still doesn't want to engage, then share with someone who can help you move on, who can help you see the wider perspective and let the person who's hurt you live as they so intend. In the pain, we can hand it to God which frees us from the hurt and saves us from hanging on too long.
In essence, Mel's advice is that small consistent action changes everything: mindset switching from negative to positive and from resentment to forgiveness changes lives. It's not in any way, flippant advice. She acknowledges that conflict resolution isn't glamorous, it's gruelling but that often we waste our life on things we can't control, hold on too long until what hurts becomes excruciating.
As a Christian I believe my responsibility is my ability to respond; to each other person and to the needs amongst us. To make any changes in the way we approach situations and in how we respond takes time and continual attention. Did you know that it can take some of us over 300 times of doing something new before it becomes a habit? It's no wonder that we find change so difficult.
It is important to be able to understand our thoughts and feelings in order to help others understand theirs and being in relationship, friendship, colleagueship with someone else is the greatest gift we can offer as a human being. I'm thankful for new books and theories like 'Let Them' which remind us of what's already here for us in ancient scripture.
No one walks faster than I do past a street preacher shouting about sin and salvation, but if they were to talk about sin as those things that get in the way of relationship and salvation in terms of finding peace in a relationship with God without those 'in the way' things, then they'd have a crowd around them.
God loves every human being on the planet. We can all have a relationship 1:1 with God. Staying in any relationship is tricky and requires work and self-sacrifice but we don't have to do things in our own strength. Prayer is just asking God for help, moment by moment, continually at any time, anywhere. It's the first and best free wifi connection in the Universe and it never glitches out.
If you ever want some help, from a fellow flawed human, then I'm happy to talk. Deacon Helen 07958 940 263