Knowing the Difference

(Pro 20:3 KJV)  It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

My first reaction to this verse is to nod my head wisely.  If I am having a typical day I then move on feeling good about myself.  Unfortunately, or fortunately depending how you look at it, the Holy Spirit does not let it go at that.  There are always the days when it become clear that I am better described in the second part than the first.  

“Meddling” (quarrel NASB) (1566) is not always broadcast or obvious.  In fact we get really good at holding them below the radar.  The option here is not winning or losing.  It is not keeping our powder dry.  It isn’t retreating to fight again.  That is what the fool does.  I must confess it is what I do too often.

The goal is to let it go and move on.  The goal is not to win.

So?  This is easy to say but hard to practice.  We have heard the prayer of Reinhold Niebuhr about courage, patience and wisdom.  Maybe that should be our prayer too.