I love reconciliation.
I didn’t grow up in a house that demanded typical apologies. Saying the words wasn’t always important.
Our actions were, however.
Being one of five kids there were always fights. The TV was a big one. This was in the day when as a child we din’t even think about having a TV in our bedroom.
We watched a lot of TV. Oh, we spent a lot of time playing outside, too, but when indoors the TV was always on.
The fights were loud – and could get physical. Back then you changed the channel with a knob – and funnily enough you could pull ours off, meaning no one else could control the channel.
For the longest time we would fight over possession of the knob. Then one of us realized an even better tactic – you pull the plug so the person with the knob lost their power.
If I couldn’t watch my show, you can’t watch yours.
My mother was raised with two sisters who were spread out in age. She thought she was raising barbarians. Still she would be mystified that five minutes after one of these epic fights, we’d have forgotten about it and were snuggled on the couch watching TV together.
Rarely did we say “I’m sorry”. We probably weren’t, but knew keeping up the antagonism was not fun for any of us. Someone would plug the TV back in, someone would put the knob on and we’d agree on a show to watch.
Even today we can be angry with each other one day and have no memory of it the next.
Invest in those things you love. I’m investing in reconcilation.
“Reconciliation requires changes of heart and spirit, as well as social and economic change. It requires symbolic as well as practical action.” – Malcolm Fraser
In the Box, Out of the Box 