It’s All A Bit Tricky

Our friend Jane often says, ‘It’s all a bit tricky.’ Jane uses it when talking about health concerns, family relationships, church disagreements. It’s a useful phrase in all sorts of situations…

I joined a conversation. I overheard Johnny say, ‘operation’, ‘successful and doing well’. ‘Sorry… who are we talking about?’ I asked.

‘It’s my daughter,’ Johnny said. ‘She’s just come back from Turkey, where she’s had a gastric band fitted.’ It wasn’t the answer I expected. I wasn’t sure what Johnny thought. I wasn’t sure what the correct answer to that was. It was just a bit tricky.

Chloe’s dad, Chris, presents as Clare. Chloe’s got used to her dad wearing a dress and make up. Sometimes she talks about ‘dad’ sometimes its ‘Clare’. She is very matter-of-fact about her situation.

Yesterday Chloe was saying that the problem she has is, not that he’s wearing a dress, but that the dresses are not appropriate for someone of his age. Other people look and comment… It’s all a bit tricky for Chloe.

Bill’s setting up ‘Free Books’, available for all, from a vacant shop in our town centre. He was talking about different genres, whether all are necessarily appropriate…

…books that may be offensive. We discussed the old children’s Enid Blyton Books… Noddy… Is it offensive calling a character ‘Big Ears’? And what about ‘Golliwog’? Understanding different points of view, doing the right thing… It’s all a bit tricky.

I’ve faced a number of ‘a bit tricky’ conversations recently – some confidential, personal, private, un-sharable…

I return to James’ wise words: ‘Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.’

James warns us: ‘No man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.’

James continues: ‘But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; the peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.’

I seek such wisdom in conversations when ‘it’s all a bit tricky’.