The Meaning of – “Dodging The Draft of Thoughts”
This poem reflects how our thoughts shape our viewpoint. The ultimate goal is to present us with three options in face of conflict:
- Correct our position on a topic
- Modify our virtue to stay in community
- Stay firmly convicted that our initial reaction is appropriate
I hope to show the dangers of verbalizing our first thoughts and how swiftly speaking our mind interferes with our ability to communicate and make the best choices.
Emotional Reactivity & Apathy
You are presented with a situation that requests your concern. Your first response will be emotional if you care about the situation, or it will be apathetic if you do not care about the situation.
“I can’t believe…!” VS “Who cares?”
At this point, the community you are in (such as the Body of Christ) and the individual role you play in society may conflict in biases.
Ego & Pride
You are presented with a situation for the second time requesting more of your attention. You may or may not have wanted to ponder further about the situation. This is the time where the carnal brain will form a defense for its initial reaction, especially if your first thoughts on a situation were expressed out loud!
This is where you are in critical condition of becoming polarized to a set of ideals, to a certain sub-community (such as a sub-body of Christ.)
Choices
You have had enough time to reflect on how your thoughts differ from other parts of your community. You feel compelled to respond.
How are you going to present your opinion when you are asked for it amongst divided people? Will you hold onto the trigger that sets people apart? Remember:
- Even if you yourself are not triggered but your words have triggered rage, that rage still belongs to you because you are one with that community.
- Apathy is as easy of a response to conflict as having an emotional reaction.
- There is always a way to speak that will make people drop the stones that are in their hands.
Want to silence your critics? Telling someone off is like winning the battle and losing the war. Speaking your mind with truth and empathy may seem like opposing forces to the carnal mind, but that’s the formula God allows for us to gain the quiet respect that we all look for.
If you like this post, click on ‘like’ and I can write a similar analysis for, I am Your Mouth.
RenewThisMind 
The part about “Emotional Reactivity & Apathy” really hit home for me. Really cool illustration too!
Thanks a lot for your feedback. It’s much appreciated. The illustration comes from pixabay.com. No attribution required so it helps keep a free blog. 🙂
Ah! I thought that it might have been one that you had taken!
lol, nah. I’m cheap like that! 🙂 Let me see if I can find the original artist.
I believe the artist’s name is Gerd Altmann from Freiburg/Deutschland. https://pixabay.com/en/workplace-digitization-robot-binary-1616459/
“Speaking your mind with truth and empathy may seem like opposing forces to the carnal mind, but that’s the formula God allows for us to gain the quiet respect that we all look for.”
Well said. Proverbs 15:1
Love the way you summed it up with Proverbs 15:1. “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” NIV Your comment is much appreciated, Brandon.