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Celebrating Everyday Spirituality

Sunflower Seeds

Celebrating Everyday Spirituality

Achieving Peace through Compromise

Alex and Candice are siblings, ages 13 and 11 respectively. (They are also my grandnephew and grandniece). As siblings, they sometimes fight over who gets to ride in the front seat of the car. One day Alex decided to do something about their quarreling. He drew up a legal contract that set the “rules” for determining who got to sit in the front seat when. The contract was two pages long.

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(Source: Pixabay)

Alex signed the document and handed it to his sister to sign. She read it and said, “I’m not signing this. It’s not fair.” They discussed what would be more fair. Then Alex rewrote the contract, signed it, and again gave it to his sister. Again she refused to sign it, saying, “It still favors you.” The third draft proved acceptable to Candice. She signed the contract and Alex put a copy of it in the glove compartment of their car—for handy reference.

When I heard this story, I thought, “If only the rest of the world could resolve their conflicts in such a manner.” I don’t know what made that contract acceptable to both Alex and Candice, but I strongly suspect that some sort of compromise was involved. What is compromise? Essentially it means, “I’ll give in a little if you will give in a little.”  And why do we give in a little? Why do we compromise? Because of a greater shared good. In this instance, there were several shared goods: fairness, respect for each other, and peace!

For some people, compromise is a bad word. Just google it and you’ll find countless articles (many are religious related) that say compromise is bad or even a sin. But in her article, “Compromise Is the Glue in Relationships,” in The National Catholic Reporter (October 7, 2016), Heidi Schlumpf takes a different slant. She agrees that scripture and church teachings leave no room for being “wishy-washy.” After all, the Ten Commandments are not Ten Suggestions. And Jesus’ mandate “to love one another as I have loved you” sets the bar of loving as high as you can get.

But Schlumpf argues that a good compromise is the bond that holds relationships together whether in a marriage, friendship, or country. She calls attention to Jesus’ ability to compromise. Just look at his choice of apostles. Peter was far from perfect. He was brash and impetuous. But he was also capable of passionate loyalty and devotion. And Simon the Zealot was (after all) a Zealot, that is, someone who advocated the violent overthrow of the Romans. How unlike Jesus’ own stance. And next to Simon was Matthew, a tax collector who actually collaborated with the Romans against his own people. I imagine the conversations between Simon and Matthew were sometimes tempestuous.

A good compromise is based on a shared basic principle. For example, if two friends want to go and see a movie, they might have to compromise on which movie they end up seeing. Why the compromise? Because their friendship and being together are more important than the particular movie they see.

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(Source: Pixabay)

In a good compromise both parties respect the other party’s legitimate interests. They both exercise flexibility. And they both make a contribution. In other words, both parties collaborate with each other. Mike Rutherford applies compromise to the experience of being in a band. He says, “Being in a band is always a compromise. Provided that the balance is good, what you lose in compromise, you gain in collaboration.”

The writer Paul Murray equates compromise with psychological maturity. It is the acceptance that we cannot live in isolation from the world. Instead we must live within the world, and that entails compromise.

Today you might want to reflect on these questions:

1) What are some of the compromises you have had to make in your friendships, marriage, religious community, church, or work?

2) When is a compromise not a good compromise?

As we conclude the year 2016 and begin the new year of 2017, I chose a song that is a prayer for peace by David Haas. As we pray the words of this song, let us give thanks to God for being with us throughout 2016—through both the happy times and the sad times. And let us reaffirm our belief that God will walk with us throughout the coming year. Happy New Year!

What are some of your thoughts on the subject of compromise?

Or what are your thoughts as you end one year and begin a new one? My readers (and I!) always enjoy hearing from you!

 

 

 

 

 

8 Responses

  1. Dear Sister Melannie,

    First, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas! Happy day-after-Christmas!
    Second, that’s right! Simon the Zealot and Matthew on the same team! What was Jesus thinking!? But, that choice alone elucidates the complexity of Jesus and his actions.
    As far as compromise in marriage is concerned, scripture tells us that man and woman become one flesh. I like to read that this way: one person enters a relationship with 100% of his/her ego in tact, and the other does the same. As the relationship grows/evolves, each person needs to shed some ego (self), till, ideally, they are both at 50%, making them “one”, so to speak. So much easier said than done, however!

    Take care, and have a happy 2017!

  2. My husband and I have been married for 60 years so compromise as a couple has become a way of life. However, as a couple, we continue to practice our faith within a Church that expects us to sign a compromise that favors a “worthy” group of members and tells the “unworthy” to stay within their established boundaries. We are 100% Christian but cannot be 100% Catholic until a true compromise can be reached. We pray to the Lord……

  3. Compromise is an ongoing process that is essential in promoting peace in our world. ..if only.
    A Happy and Blessed New Year to all ⛪

  4. 1Sitting here thinking of all our blessings, prayers have been answered, our family was together for the first time in years. Some scars are starting to heal.
    I have my Faith who sees me through everyday.

    Thank You

  5. From a religious point of view, compromise may appear to be very risky, probably because we imagine it making us vulnerable to being wrong or going wrong. However, if we were to trust God’s gift of Wisdom as our guide in compromising, we could enjoy peace within and peace with others.

  6. I must agree with Jean who wrote that many years of marriage certainly teaches compromise…..After 55 years….compromise is our middle name….both of us!!!!!
    However, our children found their own compromise when they were young. There are six children eight years from oldest to youngest. Somehow, they decided among themselves that the oldest would sit in the front. Although there was no contract….that agreement was always honored. To this day if we go somewhere….the oldest sis in the front with me!!!!! Love you Sister Melannie…….sending warmest wishes and prayers for a happy, happy New Year

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Meet Sr. Melannie

Hi and welcome to my blog! I’m Sister Melannie, a Sister of Notre Dame residing in Chardon, Ohio, USA. I’ve been very lucky! I was raised in a loving family on a small farm in northeast Ohio. I also entered the SNDs right after high school. Over the years, my ministries have included high school and college teaching, novice director, congregational leadership, spiritual direction, retreat facilitating, and writing. I hope you enjoy “Sunflower Seeds” and will consider subscribing below. I’d love to have you in our “sunflower community.” Thank you!

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