Chapter 28: The treatment of those who relapse
If even such prayer does not bring healing, the superior must turn to the knife of amputation, following the guidance of St Paul, who told the Corinthians to banish the evil from their midst, and again he said: if the unfaithful one wishes to go, let him go, lest one diseased sheep corrupt the whole flock. (From Ch. 28 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)
When is the time to accept difficult relationships, and when is the time to let them go? My ego can stir up very mixed motives, and make situations worse. But God calls me to hold true to the way of growth that springs from my rootedness and trust in him.
from Mahatma Gandhi. “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” I cannot change anyone by talk and nagging. It is pointless and time-wasting. The change is my notion and not someone else's. Turning off the spotlight of useless concern from someone else allows me, frees me ,to "be willing to correct things in myself. (Chittister) However, as Benedict makes very clear in this chapter in so many words the love for the other person is never withdrawn.
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