Do Not, I repeat, NOT, engage. . .

It happens so quickly.  

A simple request was made.  I said, "Sure."

And I stepped on someone else's toes.  Feelings were hurt.  Offense was taken.

Nothing was intended.

Ah, but then the cogs start turning within me.  Defensiveness.  Anger.  Despairing over the reality of dealing with people in the Church.  Questions of "Why?"  "Why this?  Why now?"  "Is this really necessary?"

And all too quickly there may be two of us constructing mountains out of molehills.  

For one who is bipolar, the instinctive responses of fight or flight take on manic/depressive tendencies.  The fighter in me goes manic.  The depressed side of me just flees into that cavern of woe.  

And then the Voice cries out in warning.

Do not engage! 

Just because someone has a problem doesn't mean you have a problem.  Let them own their own problems.  

Do not be baited into an engagement in a battle that need not be fought.

We have limited resources for warfare.  Don't bankrupt those resources on meaningless battles.  

Would that I'd learned that lesson years ago.  

There would have been a lot less bloodshed.  A lot more would have been left in the tank for dealing with issues that really matter.  

Do not engage!  Do not let others take control of your psyche.  Do not empty your soul over that which doesn't matter.  

Let them be.  Move on.  

Tomorrow someone else will make a request.  A response will follow.  And perhaps yet another persons nose will get bent out of shape.  But that's their nose, not yours.  And its not your job to straighten other people's noses.  Nope.  Not at all.

Do not engage.