Every
day, somewhere in the world, an incident occurs that we know as a hit and run. Usually the incident
is an accident but there are also occasions when the hit was intentional. When
a person causes harm or death by striking someone with their vehicle, it is
lawful to stop and exchange information with one another. The right course of
action is to restore peace to one another and to make restitution for the
damages that have occurred. So why do people chose to run? I think that the
primary reason is out of fear. When you find yourself at fault in a situation
it can be extremely difficult to take responsibility for your actions, it's much easier to run.
I have
found that this can also describe what happens in relationships at times. Have
you ever experienced a hit and run
type of relationship? Have you ever had someone that you love hurl accusations
and abuses toward you, and then cut you off? Have you been told that your point
of view is not relevant or welcomed? Or maybe you are the person who has done
the hitting. What this creates is a personal Cold War between people.
The term
Cold War, describes tension without large scale fighting. The Cold War began
just two short years after World War II. The Soviet Union and the United States
were allies in defeating the Nazis. Unfortunately, the relationship between
these two countries deteriorated quickly. The reason for this split was because
of many things, but I think that one of the most powerful reasons was fear.
Both countries wanted power and control. The Americans were afraid of communism
and the Russians were afraid of the atomic bomb. Germany became divided
politically between the communist east and the democratic west. This caused the
erection of the Berlin wall in 1961. This was East Germany’s attempt at keeping
people from fleeing the oppressive communist regime and finding freedom in the
west. The Cold War lasted for more than forty years. What finally ended the
Cold War was for Mikhail Gorbachev to initiate a series of summit meetings with
Ronald Reagan. These two world leaders were able to work together to create a
better world. Communism began to tumble in Europe, the Berlin wall was torn
down and the reduction of nuclear weapons began. Without the willingness for
both parties to come to the table and talk, there could be no possibility for
peace. Mikhail Gorbachev opened the door for significant healing and change to
begin in the world by his willingness to sit down and talk.
Life is
difficult and relationships can get messy at times. I think that life is to
short to allow years to go by with unresolved conflict between family and friends.
So if you find yourself in a hit and
run situation or an ongoing Cold War, what can you do? If you are the
one that has been hit then you can move forward by way of forgiveness and a
willingness to listen. Chances are that there is fault on both sides of the
table. If you are the one who has run
away, then you can come back to the table and find restoration in the
relationship. When we choose to turn toward one another, we find peace. When we
run away from each other we erect walls that divide. These walls create much
pain and suffering. The sad truth is that there can be no end to a Cold War
without both parties wanting peace and restoration. It takes courage to end a
Cold War. You have to be willing to honestly look at yourself.
What
people remember most about the end of the Cold War are the famous words of
Ronald Reagan, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.” If you find yourself with
the power to tear down a wall that is causing division in a relationship with
someone whom you love, then I would encourage you, by all means to tear down
the wall and end the Cold War!
I am
reminded of the description of the action of love found in the Bible:
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not
provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in
unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all
things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails!
We do not need to live our lives controlled by fear.
Perfect love casts out fear.
So if love is
present, then there is hope!
