Deliberate Misunderstanding

There was a picture of my friend Chris in last weekend’s local paper, handing over a cheque to a mother and her son…

I met Chris yesterday afternoon and asked him to tell me the story. At some point I heard ‘autistic dog’. I deliberately misunderstood, imagining a lovely but challenging dog that needed particular care and understanding.

Chris told me about the local family requiring an autism assistance dog for their son Elliot who is nonverbal and requires round-the-clock care. Chris was representing five local Lions clubs who together provided £4,000 to buy and train a specialised dog to meet Elliot’s specific needs.

In yesterday’s ‘Sun’ there was the heading ‘Barbie’s Having a Baby’… way outside my interest and expertise. My mind deliberately misunderstood… moving between children’s fashion dolls that can produce babies, and teaching aids for explaining the facts of life. They were interesting but unnecessary imaginations.

I read on. ‘Barbie superstar Margot Robbie is expecting her first child, it has emerged.’ I read it again. Is it the child or news of the expected child that has emerged? I confess there was further deliberate misunderstanding.

I’ve had several conversations recently… Good friends who aren’t Christians really don’t understand what Christian faith, Jesus and church is all about. Frequently there’s deliberate misunderstanding and good natured mischief making. They have their firmly-held ideas, but their opinions are a huge distance from my reality.

I think back to Jesus who was frequently misunderstood. Sometimes he was outspoken, calling out injustice, hypocrisy and misunderstanding. He talked about truth and frequently redirected thinking with, ‘You have heard it said… but I say…’

However, despite misunderstanding, both by friends and enemies, Jesus just continued being himself – welcoming children when he was tired, chatting to the friendless and isolated, partying with the prostitutes, living compassionately with the needy, washing dirty, smelly feet…

This morning I’m praying for the wisdom to know when misunderstanding needs calling out, and when I just keep going – seeking to serve with kindness and compassion.