Love, Love one another

In my "how to be a teacher" classes, I have been (or I should say HAD been) sitting by a certain individual who shall remain nameless. I'll call her "Businees Ed" because in real life, she calls me "Home Ec" instead of "Charity." I mean, who would actually call someone by their real name for goodess sakes.... anyway, I could blog daily about the heartache that this woman has caused me. She takes up WAY too much room. She smacks her gum on purpose because she knows I can't stand it. She says the rudest comments to me. She told me once that she didn't like me, and didn't want to be my partner. She CONSTANTLY distracts me...on purpose. The thought even entered my mind that perhaps the department of education placed her in our class as a joke or as a test to see how we would handle problem students. This woman is apparently ignorant of how to act in a group setting. She reads the newspaper during presentations (we sit on the front row). she constantly talks and laughs, and yawns, and makes a ton of noise. She gets up and down to go to the bathroom...She even told one of our presenters (who was the superintendent of a school district) that her presentation was a "compete waste of time and she didn't get anything out of it." (sidenote: OMG!) I think the last straw for me was when she threw a marker at me during group time...I had HAD IT! I moved one row back to sit with my friend Brandon.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"says the Lord. On the contrary:

"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12: 9-21

I've read this chapter in the Bible dozens of times over the years, but Sunday it took on a whole new meaning to me. I have become really really skilled in the whole "living in harmony with one another..." thing. And in Charity Bible Translation, it means "Live in harmony with one another NO MATTER THE COST, OR HOW FAKE YOU HAVE TO ACT." I'm pretty good at keeping my mouth shut. I'm really good at giving people a chance, and the benefit of the doubt. I'm almost an expert in doing the right thing, even if my heart is not in it---I just do it anyway, because it's the "right thing to do." And when I read this chapter on Sunday, I realized that is precisely the problem.

I don't wish bad things on Mrs. Business Ed, but I don't like her either--I certainly don't love her. I don't want her to fail, but I don't care enough to ask to be her partner. I know she is lonely, but there is no way I'd sit with her at lunch (she threw a MARKER at me, oh, and she's 60 years old and threw a marker at me...just thought I should throw that in). The Lord commands His children to love one another above ourselves. How is that possible? IS that possible? He tells us to BLESS those who persecute us...How can you "bless" someone when you have only bad feelings toward them? Is my heart so hard that I have no compassion for people who get on my nerves? How can I get my human heart to be compassionate towards everyone, not just those I like?

What do you think? As a christian, is it hard for you to truly love one another? Are you in a situation at work or in school that could use a little help in the "love one another" department? Let me know your thoughts....this is something I plan to study for as long as I need to, but I'm just afraid that may be forever...