All of us have been treated like trash in some way. It happens.
Injustice is a global human experience since the fall and has many forms. From children sold to the highest bidder for sex trafficking to the extreme working conditions of the poor in third world countries injustice is relentless and cruel.
When were treated like trash it might not be as severe as others, but to us, we’ve been treated unfairly. It might come from employers, family, spouses, churches or close friends like Job’s miserable comforters. ‘God save me from friends, I can protect myself from my enemies.’
Some think it serves us right to suffer while others don’t mean to mistreat us. We’ve been lied to, betrayed, abandoned, misunderstood, abused or falsely accused. Every year thousands are falsely accused of crimes they did not commit. From the blues to country music there are songs about suffering and deliverance for the long awaited ‘promised land’ where one day things will be better.
Oprah says ‘talk it out’; Dr. Phil says, ‘work it out’ and Gerry Springer said, ‘slug it out.’ We obviously have some options. So what do you do when you’ve been treated like thrash? You can respond in two very different ways.
One way is the way of the world. The way of the world is to:
Retaliate with words. Oh, this is so easy isn’t it?
Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Pro.12:18
While we should ‘speak the truth in love’ sometimes words are better left unsaid. We have a tendency to get back with using too many hurtful words or gossip. When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. Pro.10:19
It has been said, ‘not everyone repeats gossip, some just improve it.’
An evil person sows strife, and gossip separates the best of friends. Pro.16:21
Disconnect and isolate from family, friends and community.
When we cut ourselves off from objective feedback we can become like the paranoid billionaire Howard Hughes, our own prisoner. We begin to see things that are not there, we wonder if … After we’ve been treated like thrash, if we’re not careful we can develop our own trash heap of unresolved pain and disappointment.
We can begin to set a pattern of rummaging through the dump for things we’ve collected from our life journey. Imagine what it would smell like if you didn’t take the thrash out for two months?
If you don’t watch out the trash heap can become your life long identity. Unfortunately, for some their trash heap becomes their home. It’s not a very nice place to live. It is not a place you want to invite your friends.
You don’t want that. You need a nicer home. You want that don’t you? If you want a better way of responding to being treated like trash please check out our next blog in a few days.
Your comments and suggestions are appreciated.
