Well, we have made it to the last Saturday in May. It is crazy how fast this year is going by. I usually start my Ramblings by saying, “Happy Saturday.” However, it just didn’t seem appropriate this morning. There is far too much tragedy in our country and around the world. I personally wish that everyone would spend more time praying for each other instead of spouting off and acting like they are the all-knowing ones when it comes to these serious issues facing our world.
One day I was at one of my favorite luxury retailers perusing for bargains. Btw, this was before the Dollar Tree became the $ 1.25 Tree. Anyway, I was wandering the aisles feasting by eyes upon the incredible bargains that could be had for a buck. I think this is one of the reasons why the US is so committed to protecting Taiwan. We don’t want this to become exclusively items made in mainland China. As I wandered around like a kid in a candy store, the serenity was broken by an obnoxious lady talking loudly on her speaker phone and oblivious to the other shoppers. She was talking so loud, and her speaker was turned way up so that we were privileged to be part of her entire conversation. Furthermore, if she saw an item she wanted, she cut in front of the other shoppers and just grabbed it off the shelf. She would have been a prime candidate for one of those Progressive commercials.
Anyway, I finished my shopping having reached the limits of my $ 3.33 budget, so I headed to the singular line that was open in the store. With the patience of Job I waited as the dollar items were rung up one by one for the people ahead of me. Then, out of nowhere came Ms. Loudtalker who was still on her phone call. She dumped her items from the plastic basket in a heap on the conveyor belt behind me. Then, much to my surprise, she smacked my arm like you would your brother or sister and said gruffly, “Hey, put that plastic thing behind your stuff so it doesn’t get mixed up with mine.” In the blink of an eye I immediately grabbed that aforementioned plastic thing and whacked her in the head with it. I then snatched her phone from her hand and smashed it on the ground. Actually, those last two sentences were added for artistic license. In reality, before I could say or do anything, she wandered back off still talking on her phone. The two other people that were now in line behind her unattended pile of goodies just stood there with their mouths open in disbelief.
It’s at times like that that many thoughts run through your mind. The initial thought of confronting her quickly diminished knowing that it would not do any good and it would likely cause a scene. I do know that if the tables were turned, it would have caused quite a scene and sadly in this day and age, it would made the news as a hate crime, sexism, or an act of racism. So, I just shrugged my shoulders at the people in line, paid for my goodies and left. Of course, those people were stuck because her stuff was still one the belt and she was still wandering around shopping.
Life is full of choices. In the world in which we live, people are constantly doing dumb things. One thing we need to realize is that we won’t be able to correct everyone else’s behavior. We have a hard enough time working on our own. What we really need to determine is how we will respond. Do we get angry? Do we retaliate? Do we give them a piece of our mind? (Some of us don’t have much to spare). Do we just walk away? I am not a prophet but I can read my Bible and also discern the times in which we live. Folks, it’s not going to get any better anytime soon. Therefore, we must be ready to live like Christians even when the world around us is not. In fact, it is growing increasingly hostile to Christ. Choose your battles wisely. You will waste a lot of precious time trying to convince others you are right about everything.
8 Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble, 9 not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing.
10 For the one who wants to love life and to see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit,
11 and let him turn away from evil and do what is good.
Let him seek peace and pursue it,
12 because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do what is evil.
13 Who then will harm you if you are devoted to what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear themor be intimidated, 15 but in your hearts regardChristthe Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. 16 Yet do this with gentleness and reverence, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the fleshbut made alive by the Spirit…(1 Peter 3:8-18, CSB)
From our neighborhoods to the nations,
Pastor Larry
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