Have You Ever Been Misunderstood?

P.O Box 1540, Albany Western Australia 6331
Phone/Fax: (08) 98 418 418
E-mail: abl-alb@omninet.net.au

Have You Ever Been Misunderstood?
When Barbara Bennett decided to sell her Brother sewing machine, she did a reasonable thing. She placed a classified ad in her local newspaper under the headings "Miscellaneous" and "Items under $50.00." However the advertisement didn't come out exactly as intended. Somewhere along the line from purchase, to copy editing and to printing, the words "sewing machine" got lost. So Ms. Bennett wound up offering a "BROTHER" for sale! She has two male siblings, as a matter of fact, and insists she wouldn't part with either of them. The announcement must have raised some eyebrows. And it got some interesting responses. One person called her and was given the corrected information - that it was a sewing machine rather than a person for sale. "Thank you!" came the response, and the caller hung up. Another person called the number in the ad and wanted to know if the price was negotiable! When you stop to think about what I've just shared with you, it's easy to see how Barbara Bennett's ad could be misunderstood. Well, let me ask you some relevant questions. Have you ever been misunderstood, or been guilty of poor communication? Have you ever had a key word dropped from or added to your message? Have you ever been judged harshly by someone who read a false motive into something you said or did? Sometimes misunderstandings can be cleared up through fuller and better information. At other times, the person who misjudged a situation catches on, feels foolish, and takes the initiative. Sometimes there is nothing to be done - except try to go on with your life, without bitterness. Friend, Jesus knows about being misunderstood. His home life, for example, was less than ideal because his own brothers made fun of the notion that his life had a divine mission. When he preached in Nazareth, his boyhood home, the people dismissed him as insignificant. "Isn't this the carpenter's son?" they asked. Jesus must have felt terribly alone when people misread and misjudged him. The crescendo came, of course, when he was betrayed by one of his friends and left to be judged by a Roman bureaucrat who was unable to understand a kingdom "not of this world." In that swirling mess, he told his apostles: "You will all leave me; yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me" (John 16:32). What we learn from those words spoken by Jesus, is that when misunderstanding leaves you abandoned, God's-presence is the secret to survival. By the way, of the brother-for-sale episode, the newspaper ran a corrected ad. And one of Ms. Bennett's brothers said, "It's okay. I needed a good laugh." Wouldn't it be wonderful if every human confusion might have such a happy ending. Before I sign off, let me ask you two questions. How do you feel about yourself today? -- Do you feel like there is anyone who really understands you? Well, if you're feeling that no one really understands you, let me encourage you to write to me for a FREE pamphlet titled "Feeling Good About Yourself." To receive your copy by return mail, just write to me at: P.O. Box 1540, Albany W.A. 6331. If you prefer, you can Phone/Fax your request on: (08) 9841 8418. Or by Email at: abl-alb@omninet.net.au Have a great day!

When Barbara Bennett decided to sell her Brother sewing machine, she did a reasonable thing. She placed a classified ad in her local newspaper under the headings "Miscellaneous" and "Items under $50.00."

However the advertisement didn't come out exactly as intended. Somewhere along the line from purchase, to copy editing and to printing, the words "sewing machine" got lost. So Ms. Bennett wound up offering a "BROTHER" for sale! She has two male siblings, as a matter of fact, and insists she wouldn't part with either of them.

The announcement must have raised some eyebrows. And it got some interesting responses. One person called her and was given the corrected information - that it was a sewing machine rather than a person for sale. "Thank you!" came the response, and the caller hung up. Another person called the number in the ad and wanted to know if the price was negotiable!

When you stop to think about what I've just shared with you, it's easy to see how Barbara Bennett's ad could be misunderstood. Well, let me ask you some relevant questions. Have you ever been misunderstood, or been guilty of poor communication? Have you ever had a key word dropped from or added to your message? Have you ever been judged harshly by someone who read a false motive into something you said or did?

Sometimes misunderstandings can be cleared up through fuller and better information. At other times, the person who misjudged a situation catches on, feels foolish, and takes the initiative. Sometimes there is nothing to be done - except try to go on with your life, without bitterness.

Friend, Jesus knows about being misunderstood. His home life, for example, was less than ideal because his own brothers made fun of the notion that his life had a divine mission. When he preached in Nazareth, his boyhood home, the people dismissed him as insignificant. "Isn't this the carpenter's son?" they asked.

Jesus must have felt terribly alone when people misread and misjudged him. The crescendo came, of course, when he was betrayed by one of his friends and left to be judged by a Roman bureaucrat who was unable to understand a kingdom "not of this world." In that swirling mess, he told his apostles: "You will all leave me; yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me" (John 16:32). What we learn from those words spoken by Jesus, is that when misunderstanding leaves you abandoned, God's-presence is the secret to survival.

By the way, of the brother-for-sale episode, the newspaper ran a corrected ad. And one of Ms. Bennett's brothers said, "It's okay. I needed a good laugh."

Wouldn't it be wonderful if every human confusion might have such a happy ending.

Before I sign off, let me ask you two questions. How do you feel about yourself today? -- Do you feel like there is anyone who really understands you? Well, if you're feeling that no one really understands you, let me encourage you to write to me for a FREE pamphlet titled "Feeling Good About Yourself." To receive your copy by return mail, just write to me at: P.O. Box 1540, Albany W.A. 6331. If you prefer, you can Phone/Fax your request on: (08) 9841 8418. Or by Email at: abl-alb@omninet.net.au

Have a great day!