When I went to sleep last evening my ankle was so painful from an injury that day that I had been unable to walk on it at all. Based on the injury I was anticipating several days, if not longer, of recovery time. I took two Ibuprofen and went to bed.

This morning brought a conversation that inspired this writing. I was looking forward to my morning jog to work on it with God as is my routine. As I sprang out of bed excitedly and prepared for the run, I remembered the injury. No pain! My ankle was completely healed! Having just finished my jog as I write this, inspired, I can only say the thoughts keep flooding.

I hope you will soften your hearts to accept the reality that if you live to serve him, to seek Him, He will come, into your personal space, and in the most miraculous of ways. Maybe don’t expect it on your terms but expect to be overwhelmingly surprised!

Okay, onto this morning’s conversation . . .

My sister is a director at a private school and in charge of moral teachings of the students. The school has a problem with mice, and so, a professional exterminator had been placing glue traps there. Although we know the health hazards of mice in our living areas, nevertheless, glue traps are inhumane causing great suffering of these God-created beings.

My sister had tried instituting a policy of no food and had removed the traps in her area which includes a socializing room for the older students who had always been allowed to have food there prior to my sister’s hiring. So given the mouse trapping problem the dilemma arose of how to be safe vis-à-vis healthy living conditions and still allow food in the area.

This morning the exterminator and the school’s building manager had come to replace the glue traps. Conversation ensued. As my sister in a trembling voice discussed the issue, the exterminator and building manager dug in harder as to the necessity of the traps. That was until she continued to converse and share her view of the cruelty of this type of trap and was able to suggest humane alternatives, including establishing additional procedures for those using the area. As my sister and I processed this situation I was blown away by her ability to de-escalate the situation and make suggestions that could be heard toward a reasonable alternative worth trying. If it doesn’t work, the hope is that constructive dialogue will continue. All involved were able to walk away from the conversation feeling loved. (The mice benefited as well).

How is this possible especially in the divisive milieu of our current environment?

Her trembling voice in explaining her position showed her hurt heart, her humanity, a reminder of their own to those with whom she was conversing. She stood up to defend the weak. Just as Moses’ voice was not strong though his cause worthy, our human weaknesses are our strengths in the language of loving each other. Although there are times we must be strident, in many cases our vulnerability opens us and those around us up to problem solving rather than invite our perceived adversary’s defensiveness.

She discussed a reasonable solution. She communicated the plan with sensitivity to the higher ups and included the building manager in the communication as she acknowledged to the group the difficulty of his position. There is hope for a good resolution not involving glue traps.

As I went on my jog after this discussion with my sister it was clear that this was a morning where God intended to make His point clear!!! I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many animals on a 3 mile loop! There was everything from the tiniest of baby chipmunks crossing the road, to the remnants of one who didn’t make it, to countless birds and more. The journey was informative, glorious, bursting with the indescribable, overwhelming beauty of God’s created universe.

Mice are actually quite cute when they live outdoors but can create health risks when they move inside peoples’ living areas. Just as in life, mice deciding to move into our living areas is a situation over which we have no control. Various solutions may be available. Those affected by the problem may not be able to see the differing perspectives. We often can’t hear each other.

Those who need to manage or solve a dilemma often cannot see our perspective and we probably can’t see theirs. People of opposite opinions find it difficult to understand and hear each other. Generally, we really can’t communicate with each other without deliberate effort to be able to hear the other’s side without judgment, but rather, with compassion. In order to listen we need to work to hear not only them, but also, those who will be affected by the decision. Mice surely are not less in the eyes of God. There are places we can co-exist. They thrive outdoors but do not do so well against man’s driving vehicles. Nor do we do well with their waste products in our living areas.

There are many different ways to look at an underlying problem. Each person’s perspective is determined not only by their worldview and personality, but also by how bad their day is going or how busy they are. The exterminator’s tendency was to demonize the mice. The building manager was expected to solve this problem stacked onto a pile of other more pressing problems and personally may have had different views on the merits. Bringing God’s compassion and love into the scenario is how we can serve. The way we communicate with each other can determine the outcome.

This morning’s scenario, punctuated by the miraculously healed ankle and inspired jog, reminded me of the importance of bringing love, civility, and creativity to the many dilemmas we all face in our daily lives. I believe strongly in the ripple effect, as demonstrated by the apostles’ model, that such acts of love and kindness touch others, and others, and others, moving more and more to universal love, from the ground up. Clearly, we have a lot of work to do, and we can’t wait for the powers in charge at all leadership levels to set the model.

On the macro front, even if we can’t change the situation, the mouse in the house, we can remind those around us of the loving alternatives for problem solving by our words and actions. The demon is never the other side. It is that within us responding to its promptings.

Shabbat shalom.

Diane