In An Altar In The World Barbara Brown Taylor notes of herself (though she could have taken this from my journal): “I know that I have an easier time loving humankind than I do loving particular human beings…. Particular human beings rarely do things the way I think they should do them, and when they prevent me from doing what I think I should be doing, then I can run short of reverence for them.”
I guess “running short of reverence” is a nicer sounding than “get pissed off at.” But most important here is Taylor’s proposed remedy:
“One remedy for my condition is to pay attention to them when I can, even when they are in my way. Just for a moment, I look for the human being instead of the obstacle.”
Relationships, indeed, life, can take on a different tone when “I look for the human being instead of the obstacle.”
It occurs to me... 