Solid Solidarity: Solids, Liquids, Gas, Mass, Worship and Warship.

“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer”.

This may seem counter intuitive when young. When naïveté is the sincerest form of flattery. But it is more complicated. And to know the nuances sooner rather than later is good. Even prudent.

Think of it this way, kinda like a science fair project. In the end, too much liquid simply forces us to race, (to the loo, toilet, tree, restroom, bathroom, men’s room, women’s room) In addition, it drowns out our reason, and saturates our sorrow. Generally speaking into a puddle of broken promises left on the floor.

In some cases, a threat can be as effective as as a punch in the face.Just do it and get it over with. But do it. And it’s done. Stringing along is another way to form a flimsy connection in order to keep something going to keep something working to stay working.

But. Oftentimes it really does not get the job done. Prolongs the inevitable and can wreak havoc on families, on friends.

You coulda just asked.

The proverbial saying, “Keep your friends close but your enemies closer” covers just this expression. It means that you need to take the same care in watching the actions and intentions of your enemies as much as those of your friends.

Sounds rather depressing to me.

However. It does not have to be. Depends and depending on where you are coming from. To explain, we all keep our friends close. No brainer. Right? however, by keeping our enemies closer, we can stay ahead of their moves against us. The saying has mafia origins, and that makes sense since most of us don’t have enemies in our lives. (EGL)

HOWEVER. The saying can mean that you need to pay attention to people in your social circle that could potentially do you harm. It is another way of saying that the worst attacks on our safety sometimes come from within our friendships and family.

Sounds rather depressing to me.

Gives looking over one’s shoulders a whole new dimension.

Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship. But how do we know? What a “great” friendship is. What a “dispute” is.

We learn over time. Whether a great friendship can stand the test of time. Can weather the disagreements, arguments or debates. And whether or not there is enough water under the bridge.

God does not judge by outward appearances. Please consider,

In Galatians 2 11 Paul rebukes Peter at Antioch. To rebuke is to express sharp disapproval or criticism of someone because of their behavior or actions. Different than a dispute.

The opposition of solidarity—which is Unity. Unity as in

a group or class that produces or is based on community of interests, objectives and standards.

In solidarity, one cannot have one without the other. To rebuke is a whole ‘nother ballgame.

That is why it is important to know the difference.

If you choose the path of worship without warship, consider this lesson:

In Galatians 2: 11 the similarities and differences is written:

”When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him in public, because he was clearly wrong. Before some men who were sent by James arrived there, Peter had been eating with the Gentile brothers. But after these men arrived, he drew back and would not eat with them, because he was afraid of those who were in favor or circumcising (a kind of medical procedure)the Gentiles. The other Jewish brothers started acting like cowards, along with Peter; and even Barnabas was swept along by their cowardly action. When I saw that they were not walking a straight path in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter, in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you have been living like a Gentile, not like a Jew. How, then can you try to force Gentiles to live like Jews?”

A question for the ages.

Yes.

For any age or ages.

A Servant’s heart usually has a wide open space of acceptance. But make no mistake. It does not mean that servant is a “wimp” On the contrary. There is a lot to be said for quiet confidence. Beneath the Solidarity there is an air of Peace (PF). But in many cases, that solidarity is cultivated best on one’s own when taking into account the friends/enemies argument.

Hey. We can all use a friend. And. We can all use a friend. Get where I am going with this? What it may mean? Sure. In friendship, there is always some give and take required. Some negotiation in the interest of a peaceful coexistence. To help the relationship flourish and prosper.

The opposite of war. If only it were that simple and it were not so complicated. Competition is good. Competition can be healthy. But when the threat crosses the line, goes off path and injurious intentions and actions take its place.

All bets are off. Or at least if I was a betting person, all bets should be off. But unfortunately, it does not work “that way”. And as you mature along your path, you will learn too.

To zig or zag, or zag, zig?

Which way to go? All questions you will come across as you work and play and drink and eat and attend or not attend a service, mass, a church, a place of worship. Legitimacy lends itself to the sacrosanct value of human life. (PF) All human life. The threat of discontent, of causing harm to another is an error and a horror. (PF)

As war can be. Any kind of threat, automatically, atomically, physically, psychologically and with intention of escalating the immense suffering of any individual is not akin to solidarity.

So. Whether you walk straight on the path, zig or zag, come up on the fork in the road and decide to “take it”. Decide for yourself how much you can stand, how much you can take. To worship, or hop on the warship. Either way,

It doesn’t matter if you win or lose it is how you play the game. And if you play it solid with the strength of quiet confidence you may be alone but you will not be lonely.

Sounds like the opposite of depressing to me🙂