I came in peace to a club meeting I rejoined. There is a member who has targeted me for the past year on everything and any way she could. I can see that peace is not what this girl wants. Yes, she has a long standing grudge against me. She has never allowed me to discuss this with her. She has only given me her piece of mind, but never allowed me to give my side of the story. I am at the point where I don’t want to participate with the President of the organization getting into a rant about something I say or do. The reason I became reinstated was to make peace and promote charity and unity among the members. However, this doesn’t seem to be what the President wants. Should I just shake off the dust and move ahead?
I’m a little unclear on the situation here…First you are talking about another member and then you begin talking about the president of the group…Is this one in the same person?
Perhaps that is not really important to your question though…
It appears you have done all that you can. If the other members of the group are uninterested in resolving this matter with you, then there is really no choice but to simply and graciously leave in peace, and love, and all good wished for the group.
The one thought that did occur to me - since you mention the group has a president - and assuming that meetings are run on some sort of parliamentary procedure - would be to, during a meeting, be recognized and to speak your peace. Under parliamentary procedures the others may not interrupt you. If any try then it is the duty of the chairperson to step in and prevent/silence such interruption.
However…If this is not possible in your group…then there is really nothing more to be done…except…
You could remain and be a target for this person’s venom, suffering in great Christian joy and returning only Love for hate and kindness for every slight. As others see this and see who is consistently the attacker and who is consistently the attacked and who is more at peace and who is not, they may find themselves asking you questions such as “Why do you allow this?”…“Why do you stay?”…etc. Which gives you the opportunity to witness to your faith and the love you have for your attacker(s).
I must also say that there is a certain satisfaction to be seen in how frustrated such people can become when they find that they can no longer “get your goat”.
As a child, my mom would tell us, “Just ignore them and they will tire of picking on you”…Well it takes a lot of time and effort and restraint, but it does work.
You did say that you rejoined in order to promote peace and love right? I guess the question is, what is the best approach and how long are you able to hang in there?
Hope some of this helps.
Peace
James
