Grace Land

Webster's defines indifference as: The state or quality of being indifferent; lack of concern; apathy.  Unimportance; insignificance. 

It is when we are invested in outcome that we do not see the beauty and freedom in indifference.  When we read the definition above, we often see it as something negative rather than the potential for all sorts of freedom, emotional and spiritual maturity.  Even someone's apathy may force our hand to either be reactive or grow in spiritual maturity.  It isn't comfortable.  Lack of concern may be negligence or it my be faith!  Unimportance  and insignificant may mean that "it" not longer has power over  you. 

 

When we are struggling with these issues, it is usually "the other" that has triggered the struggle.  This pushes us to either discern our place of investment (what is really going on) or fall again into the struggle with flesh and blood.  Rejecting the lessons that we need to instruct us in these struggles leaves us uneducated and practicing investment in outcome...always demanding to have our way.  

Peter said that he would die for the Lord.  In reality, he denied the Lord three times.  Then the cock crowd.   He was face to face with the truth about himself.  Any of our struggles have the potential of being the cock crowing the third time.  Peter's investment in outcome meant that he valued his own life above the Lord's experience.  This valuing of self is the opposite of "to live you must die."  

In our land, the rule is more, bigger, better.  We function from win/lose rather than win/win.  We are very much about competing instead of cooperating.  In listening to some children lately, I noticed that their conversation was all about having the last word even if that last word was hateful and hurtful.  They were taught this behavior by adults who are too invested in outcome.

There is a place for us to speak our preferences, wants, or needs.  That is in the spirit of win/win or cooperation.  Valuing each other's needs is a beautiful thing.  Seeing each other as a wounded child in need of healing changes the struggle with "flesh and blood" to a more elevating, and, hopefully, redemptive work.  That which you struggle against you empower.  Criticism is a counterfeit for intercession.  We must die to self/selfishness/neediness/woundedness if we are to live in a place of resurrection power.  That does not mean that we do not count.  It does mean that we have decided to make our life count for something higher.  We will not be building a kingdom on earth for self.  We will be embracing the potential of the spiritual kingdom within.  Praise God!