Extreme Makeover

A few nights ago I was watching a re-run of the show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." They always have a neat story line, and the change from before to after is always incredible. What makes the show even more amazing is that these radical changes all happen within the space of a week.

I've been through quite a week myself... it feels like I've been through "Extreme Makeover: Heart Edition." Something significant happened in the space of a few days, but the story actually began weeks ago with the "gem" I described in my last post -- when God challenged me to invite Him into the painful and messy parts of my life.

That led to some great conversations with my pastor & his wife. I'm extremely blessed to be in a place where I can admit that I've messed up or I'm not as mature as I'd like to be (or like others to think that I am)... and not feel condemned.

Well, a little more than a week ago... I blew it. Someone pushed my buttons and I reacted out of proportion. At the time, it was easy to justify it to myself because I felt that I had been wronged more severely, but I knew in my heart that I had blown it.

The next day, my pastor gently confronted me about it. It was not fun... but instead of just correcting me and sending me away with my tail between my legs, my pastor offered to "mediate" the situation and help make things right again. He also listened when I shared about things that had hurt me... and helped me see it in a different light. I realized that I was taking offense at things that were not meant in a hurtful way -- it was just a culture / personality clash. He also showed me how things I was doing could be taken in a hurtful way even though I never meant it that way. It was an eye-opening experience.

A couple of days later, the three of us met and I had a chance to apologize to the person I had offended. That was incredibly difficult for me -- on many levels -- but it was also a huge relief.

Someone once told me that "perception is reality." In this case, I'm very glad that my perceptions were challenged... and corrected. I kinda think my reality will be a lot better for it too :)