Verse of the Day for August 24

Iron sharpeneth iron sounds pleasant on a fridge magnet. In real life it is noisy. Iron against iron throws sparks. Something is taken off both blades.

The verse continues: so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Countenance means face. This kind of sharpening happens face to face. Not by message, not behind the back, but looking at each other.

That is exactly where fear speaks first. Fear says do not raise it, he will be offended, she will walk away, it is not your place. So we keep our blades apart and both grow dull.

The verse before says that trying to hide a quarrel is like trying to hide the wind. Some things cannot be hidden. Conflict avoided is not conflict removed. And verse 18 reminds us that the patient keeper of the fig tree eats its fruit. Friendship that survives sharpening bears fruit later.

Is there a friend you have been avoiding a hard conversation with? Fear may be speaking first, but it does not get the last word. Ask to sit down together over tea. Speak gently, face to face. Let both of you leave a little sharper.

Sparks are not always a sign that a friendship is failing.

Some conversations are only possible face to face.