Cheryl Schatz

Mark,
I must also apologize to you if my correction came across harsh in any way. I didn’t think so, but I do respect your feelings. It is my usual manner to try to balance out “correction” with positive affirmation. I think that is the respectful way and I failed to do that yesterday. Not only was I worried about my husband (who had three days of pain and pain can be very draining even for a care giver) but I was experiencing my own frustration with constantly being misunderstood and seeing the subject (at least the way I see it) as being high-jacked. Honestly, Mark, you are a tad frustrating. Not sure what tad means in Australian, but here it means “a little bit”.

When the game (the discussion) calls for a high ball, you throw me a low ball. I keep looking and hoping that you will actually, eventually throw a real high ball so we can examine it and commend it and go on even if we have to say that we agree to disagree. But the low balls can be frustrating. The low balls are when you replace one word with another and treat them as if they are the same. It is difficult to get through on a level where we can understand each other when people are playing a different ball game.

The best thing, though, is that we do not attack the other person personally. Ideas can be challenged and logical fallacies can be identified and tossed out, but people are precious and valuable members of the body of Christ who should be corrected and encouraged and edified with patience. If I have come across in any way impatient, I sincerely apologize. I will try to do better with the next “ball”.