The dynamics of power-control have been interesting lately.  I know several people with strong and take-charge personalities, and recently, it has gotten messy and cleaned-up as a result of that.  People can really hurt each other when they are not careful/aware of others' feelings.  It is important to respect each other and err on the side of giving someone the benefit of the doubt.  Believe me, I hurt people, and have a ways to go, but I think I have a rather good idea of what people are sensitive to and when I'm stepping on toes and it's still hard to think that some people just are people-clueless.  A good example of someone being in tune with others is a co-worker and myself.  For the last two days, she's been asking me, "What's wrong?" and we've had a conversation about it- and while my world's not falling apart, no one else has said anything to me, so I don't know if others have noticed.  It's like Grace's message Sunday is walking right out into the world, except that I haven't initiated it; I'm subject to it.  She talked about being sensitive to what others are going through and talking to strangers and connecting with them.  I think it's so cool to experience another's pain, etc.  I really believe in the importance of community and sharing with each other and not carrying the weight of the world ourselves.  That's where this whole power-thing comes into play.  It's hard to trust others to do something- what if it doesn't get done or isn't done as well as you could do it?  Why bother someone else when you're perfectly capable of handling one more thing?  I don't know.  There are some burdens I don't think others should be subject to.  Maybe it's something I've brought on myself.  Maybe people already have enough to deal with.  Maybe it's my pride.  Maybe that means letting go and getting over it, and it's easier/preferible to be stuck in a sad/bad place that I'm familiar with than to go into the unknown that is a gamble (could be better/worse).

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us."  ---Helen Keller