not dismissing anyone

I have seen an interesting challenge on facebook - to not complain - at all - for 24 hours. My immediate thought was I'd have to pick my day carefully. I suspect that's not the point. Tomorrow there's an issue I need to raise at work that may be seen as a complaint tho I don't know I'd see it that way. So I wonder if I could start as soon as I've raised that?

It will be another long day at work, out of the house way before I'd like to be, hence me posting this now. Some days I manage more compassion than others (tho all days I try). I really like this thought provoking quote from the marvellous Henri Nouwen. I'm not one for throwing things away, or walking away from folk who are not the way I'd perhaps like them to be. Just like I'm grateful to those who know that I too, have plenty of weaknesses, but that rejection isn't the way we build community. Sometimes tho it's not easy, hey?

Not Breaking the Bruised Reeds

Some of us tend to do away with things that are slightly damaged. Instead of repairing them we say: "Well, I don't have time to fix it, I might as well throw it in the garbage can and buy a new one." Often we also treat people this way. We say: "Well, he has a problem with drinking; well, she is quite depressed; well, they have mismanaged their business...we'd better not take the risk of working with them." When we dismiss people out of hand because of their apparent woundedness, we stunt their lives by ignoring their gifts, which are often buried in their wounds.

We all are bruised reeds, whether our bruises are visible or not. The compassionate life is the life in which we believe that strength is hidden in weakness and that true community is a fellowship of the weak.

Henri Nouwen

And then some lovely before and after pics:
http://gu.com/p/46kb9/fb