Thursday, February 27, 2014

Big Picture, Individual Details

One of my personal pet peeves is when someone confuses their personal circumstances with the general trend of what's happening around them.

If someone is in less desirable circumstances than yourself, be it emotionally, physically, financially, educationally, or in any other way, it might mean that they haven't figured out yet, or have failed to apply, a few things that you understand.  But just as likely (if not more so) is that they were simply dealt a much different hand than you were.  Telling them ad nauseum how well things are going for you, and why, isn't being optimistic, it isn't teaching them principles to live by, it's being tone deaf to the personal challenges they are facing.

Serving is always more effective than sermonizing.

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