Nemesis

 

3/2/2023

Proverbs 17:14 “The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.”

Superhero movies have been popular for a very long time, and as most of us know, Marvel has the most successful franchise of all. These movies pit the good guy – or hero – against the bad guy – or nemesis – and there is a battle until the good guy wins. Sure, it may take some doing, and there may be some injury along the way, but good always triumphs over evil. It is a tale as old as time.

So, what about when you have your own personal nemesis? This is a person who may make life at best uncomfortable for you, and at worst impossible. For whatever reason, there is just an oil-and-water type situation going on, and no matter how hard you shake the bottle to try and blend the two, it just doesn’t work. It is a tough situation that many of us have been in. I know I have.

The thing is, unlike in the movies, there is usually not one person in these situations who is good and one who is evil. I currently have someone in my life who feels like my nemesis, specifically of the “making things uncomfortable” kind. I know that is true in my case. I believe myself and this other person are very well intentioned and faithful people, but we just don’t blend well. Because I am classified as an “amiable” personality, it bothers me when I have one of these situations. Amiables want to live in harmony with everyone, but that’s not always possible. Sometimes we must commit to loving someone and release the fact that we may not mesh well together. We don’t have to be angry or vindictive about the situation, for as believers that is never the way to go. We are called to be loving and graceful.

So, I have decided to give this person space and not worry about how they will or will not connect with me. After all, they are family. God would expect nothing less.