“See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”Mt 10:16

     I was sharing with a friend the other day that another friend was going through a very rough time at work. There had been some political games going on. My friend had trusted his boss and colleagues to find out that he had been betrayed.
     The line above came to mind from the Gospel of St. Matthew. Jesus, being God and human, knew/knows the human condition so very well. He was and is realistic to know that we must use the good and loving parts of ourselves for the good of others. We are called to love, forgive and sacrifice for others. He knows, however, that we must use the shrewd and cagey parts of ourselves. We must use the wisdom from past hurts and betrayals to be “players” in this world. He is saying that our attitude and disposition must be one of love and innocence. Simultaneously, we must be street-smart and wise and learn from our experiences in living. 
     Does this mean that we have carte blanche to do whatever we wish? That is where the “innocent as doves” enters.
     We must know the ways of the Gospel and know the ways of the world. Together they can work well for us and the world.
     I had recently been through an experience of betrayal. I felt all the accompanying bitterness, anger, resentment and sadness. I turn to God every day and ask God, first of all, to help me forgive the other (even when I don’t mean it.) I ask God, also, to help me to learn something from the experience. Lastly, I ask God to help me choose to be different, to be a man of the Gospel.
     I have thoughts of getting even, of finding a way to hurt the other. I thank God that with the grace that comes from the Eucharist and Reconciliation, prayer, reading the Bible, and having a good therapist, that I am dealing with those thoughts and feelings. 
     One of the lessons that I continue to learn is to recognize from my experience that trust is earned, not freely given away.
If someone wants my trust, they have to earn it.
     Does this “Heights” raise up thoughts and feelings from your experience? Talk to God about and ask Him to be “as wise as a serpent and innocent as a dove.”