Compromise
Listening is hard to do

A recent Radio 4 Thought for the Day broadcast by Canon Rachel Mann considered the thorny matter of when to compromise and when we should stand up to bullies who insist on their own way.
 
As we get older, we learn that sometimes we face fundamental issues that we can’t compromise on, so any attempt to ‘give and take’ will not work. We would have peace in Ukraine today if the territory were to be surrendered, but would that be just?
 
Today in our national and personal lives we may be faced with fundamental principles that we feel need to be protected, ranging from disputes with striking workers to wranglings in the church over same sex relationships. All of these threaten important principles but can seemingly only be effectively resolved by some form of compromise.
 
The question was raised as to whether resolution can be found through the biblical concept of ‘covenant’ This is more than a give and take compromise, but working to build a relationship with others that can give those who enter it mutual respect and blessing.
 
The Patriarch Jacob receives God’s blessing in an unexpected way. Travelling back to the land of Canaan he encounters God’s representative, an angel who Jacob wrestles with all night and ends up wounded! But also blessed with a new name - Israel.
 
Jacob’s refusal to let go shows that at times we need to fight for what we feel is right, but also teaches us that when fierce opponents stay with the trouble and bear with the discomfort of deep disagreement by listening to each other, imagining ourselves into each other’s strengths and weaknesses, this can lead not only to compromise but through the painful journey blessing can be found.
 
It is often difficult to listen and understand what others may say but, if we work at it, we may find a blessing.

Photo by Belinda Fewings on Unsplash