The devil is in the details

The funny thing about life….

As young children we are taught to wash our hands. When we come into the house from our play, when we sit down at the table to share a meal. The thinking behind such a practice is we will learn to respect those around us, the effort they put into us for our well being and growth. Our growth of good and kind and giving individuals.

Problems, complications and gossip arise when the perception of the action changes over time. If we “wash our hands” of someone or something you were previously responsible for, you intentionally stop being involved in it or connected with it in any way. (cd)

Not according to the guy I follow.🙏🏻

Spurned.

Rejected.

Offensive.

Defensive.

Division comes in many devilish ways, shapes and forms. When paying attention to the minutiae becomes a never ending exercise in futility. Exhaustion arises. What ifs and “do overs” become the topic of conversation.

One day, you wake up and realize you have been the one spurned. All along. Did not know you had the choice to say, No. Stop it. The nay sayers louder and louder spewed gossip and intentions of division, suffering and scandal. Never ending-ly pointing their fingers at the weak.

Why is it idol curiosity and superficiality often go hand in hand?

Maybe they forgot to wash their hands.

Either way, if and when you may hit a point in time of no longer choosing to be an un witting participant, pray long and longer for the strength to do so in the most kind, meek and humble way.

The devil awaits. In the details. And especially in the frailties of our existences. Stand with God through His son Jesus Christ and this will be your best opportunity to unite in honest to goodness efforts of change. Instead of pointing the finger at another. Open your arms to change. (pf)

Life has its sadness.

Life has its complications.

Life has its choices.

Seldom are they simple. Seldom are they easy.

Why?

Anger sits aside the devil. Hand in hand. Squeezing the life blood out if it and each other. Selling it, the lies and omissions of “Hey this is just business”.

I have my serious doubts.

About the business aspect of the business of rendering another weak. Not my cup of tea. We really do not have to behave sinister to get ahead. However, the devil banks on it. On you. The devil banks on you to behave in ways of deceit, receipt and deception—with a sideways smile and a nudge for you to do the dirty work.

All the while, while you are participating in a life that no longer seems like your own, the devil and his good buddy anger are infiltrating your mind, mouth and heart.

”Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, immortality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not define them.” (Matthew 15-19)

I am gonna file that fine point right smack dab in my mind.

Front and center.

For reference and reflection. Often. Daily.

Along with and only with

The desire to do good.

Good works.

On His behalf.

That way when the devil sneaks up on me and tries to take my hand. I will resist with the strength of a good person. Not of a desperate person willing to fit in at all costs. The devil’s cost.

Nope.

No. Thank you.

I think the righteous path forward is called something like, “The New Normal”. Taking steps. Next steps. Important get-life-right steps. “Taking steps to rid ourselves on uncleanness has awesome ramifications when we grasp how burdened we are with the potential for sin.”(bg)

The devil knows.

He wrote the manual.

Hand in hand with anger, gossip and hatred, chapters 1, 2 and 3.

I don’t want to live like that. Why is it that negative energy, stories and actions are so enticing? Are we all so bored?

May be we oughta get back to work.

Hard work.

Self examination.

How can we help another person start over when we haven’t yet considered, paid enough attention to our own “oopsies” and own the times, sessions and glee of gossip spewing?

Joining the crowd…..

At one time may have had its benefits.

Now.

Not so much.

What or who you may have washed your own hands of, sometimes are the very hands that slap you right back in the face.

Ouch.

All the “yes” in our life is the only other thing staring back at us in the mirror. And it may be kinda……”ugly”.

Understanding another, really understanding another takes on a whole new meaning in the realm of starting over. Better get it right. And start praying long and longer.

Lest the defilement file you away and all your faults and failings in the new chapters 4, 5 and 6 of the devil’s manual. Never a good idea to align one self with those devilish details, you will never break free of the insidious nature of the grasp his weakness has in our struggles with strength.

We pay a penance for a reason, for reasons we know only deep down in our hearts. Confession maybe good not only for the soul but for the betterment of our behavioral objectives to and of our brothers and sisters. Motivations and intentions too.

It all matters.

Because we all matter.

Maybe the best we can do at the end of every day is to simply hope we learned something new that day. In the best of worlds, it will not be at the expense of another person’s life. Or. Hand in hand with the devil. And carelessly explained away as

”It’s just business.”

Starting over.

The first three new chapters:

Affection.

Forgiveness.

Understanding.

However that will look is anybody’s guess.

I do plan to keep the devil guessing that is a for certain.

I do plan to keep my thoughts, words and actions hand in hand with God. Not point any fingers and keep my finger on the pulse of God and His messages……. far, far away from any devilish detailing of what another did “wrong”.

It doesn’t matter anymore.