Compromise.. What We Need…

The other day I attended a webinar on personal growth (personal transformation) and received some pretty valuable advice on the topic. However, during the following mornings walk, and lost in thoughts over this webinar, another word came to mind. Along with this word, came thoughts on how it fits in to personal growth. I find that it is a necessity in my life and in all our lives really and something I find lacking in today’s society. That word is compromise. Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary defines it as “to bind by mutual agreement, to adjust or settle by mutual concessions”.

There is something I do in my life, more for someone else than I do for myself, because I love that person and I wish them to live happily. I for sure would do it much less often. But, I compromise and put my complete happiness aside for theirs. Yesterday’s compromise taught me that sometimes we miss the awareness that comes in moments of doing this, that are meant for our personal growth. Because I am becoming more aware of every second, of every minute, of everyday, immediately I recognized what was beneficial to me that was a result of this compromise. I am also becoming keenly aware of the intention behind compromise. Yesterday, my compromise came from a place of love, of making someone else happy, and because of this I was rewarded. So why in today’s society can we not find our way to this word – compromise?

Well, something I read this morning is food for thought. It was the words of Benjamin Franklin in a speech given to George Washington, President of the Convention, on June 28,1787. I found it in a book written by David Barton – Original Intent (The Courts, the Constitution, & Religion). He excerpted it from James Madison, The Papers of James Madison, Henry D Gilpin, editor (Washington DC: Langtree and O’Sullivan, 1840), Vol. II. pp. 984-986, June 28, 1787. I will leave you with additional thoughts after you read the speech. Here it is:

Mr. President:
     The small progress we have made after four or five weeks close attendance and continual reasonings with each other - our different sentiments on almost every question, several of the last producing as many noes as ayes is, methinks, a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the human understanding. We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom since we have been running about in search of it....
    In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights, to illuminate our understanding? In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in this room for the Divine protection. Our prayers, sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favor. To that kind Providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance?
     I have lived, sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth - that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, sir, in the Sacred Writings, that "except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel: we shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and byword down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing governments by human wisdom and leave it to chance, war, and conquest.
     I therefore beg leave to move - that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service.

My additional thoughts are these, that I do not like the word empire and the feelings the use of the word conjures up in me. Notice, however, I say nothing about the word nations. That is a topic of discussion left for another day. That I too, believe we should humbly apply to the Father of Lights to illuminate our understanding. And that all things are possible, if we can find away to put our egos away in compromise, and add in the spirit of love that exists in each one of us. Any thoughts?