Practicing Grace

It has been said that it is easy to be a saint when other people are not around. Other people have a way of getting under our skin and showing the depths of our soul.

So I went to a baseball game last night. We were blessed with the opportunity to sit on the terrace and have a meal. Some of the seats are good and others are not so good, but each terrace is first come, first served. It is a great family atmosphere until it starts to rain - and the beer begins to flow.

It started to rain in about the second inning and by the third it was getting everything wet. Many people got up, picked up all their stuff and left - so I thought. I moved closer where I could actually watch the game without standing up. In the fourth inning, the rain stopped and suddenly these same people wanted their seats back. Now, if I had taken a jacket, purse, or even a $2 program and moved it, I would think that their request was reasonable. Did I tell them that our old seats were available and we had even cleaned up after ourselves? No, I just moved back.

It was now the fifth inning, the rain had stopped some time earlier and there was a whole bunch of room behind me, but in another terrace. So I moved. After one inning, a man from a different table came over and told us that this was his table and chairs and we had to move. But we weren't really even at the table and we had brought chairs up from our terrace and were sitting in the empty space next to the table. Did I tell him all of this? No, I just moved.

Finally, in the seventh inning, I found a table that had been vacant since the third inning. Once again, I sat in a wet chair and dried off another chair. I now realize that I was being used to dry off the chairs of strangers - a service. But, this time I was able to enjoy the rest of the game, a dry seat and the fireworks. After the game, I was the one upset at the person who let two cars go in front of them when we all know that you only have to let one go!

This morning, my wife was cursed at by the cashier at the supermarket because she wanted change for the yard sale. And when she apologized for making her job difficult, all she received was a roll of the eyes.

Is it just us, or does it seem like everybody is angry? Maybe, there is more to their stories. Maybe we need to listen to what is going on deep down inside of them. Either way, all we can be responsible for is our own response. I just had a good laugh at those people who value their temporary property - actually all property is temporary. It didn't seem appropriate to get into a counseling session at the game! But, I can practice grace in how I respond.

Why Are We So Angry?

That person on the road who just cut me off! Then there was that pot-hole that just threw my car out of alignment. Then there was a line at the coffee shop and I had to wait for my coffee. Then my favorite corner was occupied by this group of moms and their kids who were throwing their toys. Then there was this guy who was controlling the conversation with his school partner by speaking louder than a deaf guy on a cell phone with a bad connection.

So, why are we so angry all the time?

Maybe it is because we depend upon the people around us to make us happy. What if external circumstances didn't control us? What if we were centered on Christ and our identity in Him?

I tend to get angry at the situations that I cannot control. Whether it is my children, my wife, my church, or even my friends. When I come to the realization that I cannot control them I become angry. I guess that is a sign of emotional immaturity. So, I yell at them! It makes me feel better but does nothing for the situation.

So, why do you get angry? It is probably not "righteous indignation!"

Oh yeah, the coffee shop newspaper was under all the mom's purses and their coffee cups!