Even the most enlightened of people will meet an unfriendly or two. How we handle these situations can be telling of who we are. We can choose to get upset by the unfriendly words or actions of another, or we can choose to allow peace to fill our every being. Conditioned responses can easily resurface, but we do not have to act out the conditioned response.

 

Conditioned response can be an inherited trait or a societal based learned behavior. Entitlement is the number one reason people get into confrontations and have long-lasting effects. Truthfully we own nothing, but yet continue to believe we own everything and get offended when others try to take it away. Can we let it go? Can we respond with, “it is not worth my getting angry or getting into a heated discussion over something that one day will be left behind?”There are moments when we must fight for what is worked for, but often times not.

 

Recently when staying at a friends cottage, a man was fishing on a river that runs through the owned property. While fishing, he met a stranger who was walking the river. On alert, the man calls out to the man, “can I help you?” While the stranger ignored him, he called out again, “who are you?” To which the stranger replies, “who are you?”

 

“My name is Bill. What are you doing on this property?” Bill knows the laws protecting the stranger as long as he has a foot in the water, but awaits for the man to step on dry land. He does, so asked the question again. To which the man replies,

 

“I am within my rights to be fishing this stream and I am not on your property!”

 

Quickly a conditioned response surfaces, “but you just stepped on private property!”

 

“You do not own this river and I have the right to walk it. What are you going to do about it?”

 

At this point, Bill feels much anger arise but is reminded that it is not worth the confrontation and remains silent. The stranger to which replies, “Thought so…You dick!”

 

After stepping away to cool off, Bill returns. “Hi, apparently you took offense to my asking the nature of your business, my name is Bill (extending his hand in a friendly gesture).” “The name is Chris and you have no right to kick me off this river and I know my laws, allowing me to walk this river and fish.” Chris further explains the long family history of government workers, Law Enforcement and Attorneys in his family, to which he has also studied the many laws giving him right to fish this particular river.

 

Trying to speak again, explaining to Chris that he is there with his family and fishing for two days. Attempting to ask Chris’ appreciation and respect for other people’s privacy and fishing on a river that runs through a friends property, he gets cut off.

 

“You claim to not be non-confrontational but you stand over me with harsh words, thinking you can kick me off the river…you can’t!”

 

At this point Bill becomes silent and allows the rude person to go on his way. He could easily get into a heating discussion or call the police for the man’s technicality of stepping on private property, but he knows that the man does have right to step on dry land for safety reasons, only to return into the river for his fishing enjoyment.

 

The man leaves, but yet Bill stews over the situation for hours. Not for the situation itself but for the anger that rose up within him. Has this ever happened to you? Have you ever been in a situation where you met someone who feels everyone is against them and feels they are entitled to go where they please?

 

Think of the situation that exists, but then look at a large picture…we own nothing. Thinking we are entitled ourselves, we think we own this or that. Truthfully…it can all be taken from us in a single stroke of a pen, as when governing bodies decide to develop where you live or the same powers decide they want to change ownership of a given region. History proves this theory continuously as governments will enter a given region to harvest resources. The people have two choices…either accept the buyout or be removed by legal means. Sadly, it continues.

 

Bill could have got into a fist fight, but the results would have been either a false sense of  victory or ending in legal troubles for assault on an innocent bystander even while being provoked. He chose to let it go, but failed to let it go as it continued to dwell within him. Thinking it through, he comes to the realization that he has room for growth. Accepting the situation and forgiving himself for the anger that mounted, he allows a conditioned response that has wounded him internally to shed light on a darkened area of his soul.

 

Stepping into the Canvas with invitation in hand. Not an invitation of self, but an invitation to extending light on those around us. We are surrounded by unfriendly people, but it does not mean we have to be unfriendly. Let the rude ones pass, but embrace those who share your goal of peace and love for all. The Canvas of Life is meant to be enjoyed and nobody can take that away from us. Have a peaceful and Love-filled day!