My friend Ron watched The Journey Sunday
Then he had some thoughts, so he blogged
I just want to repost what he said as it adds to what I said Sunday:
In MY Spot
A friend of mine was teaching on time during a New Years church service.
He asked 4 questions.
One really struck me. Will it matter in 1year, 5years, 10 years? This really made me think about how I react to any situation.
A small, but maybe a representative story that happened just minutes before I listened to the teaching.
I came home from doing our weekly nursing home church service and found, for what have become innumerable times, a car parked in my spot. I live in a duplex and we both have our own driveways, with room for 2 cars each. I have only a single vehicle so I graciously let my neighbor use my extra spot anytime. Recently this has escalated to both my spots being used.
Now lets set the big picture here. I have just spent almost 5 hours at church leading the first impressions team. In fact I spoke to my team before both services about how we need to love even those that rub us the wrong way. After that I spent almost 2 more hours providing a church service for people at a nursing home. When I pulled up and both MY spots were full I was angry. Yes there was plenty of space on the street, and even in the other driveway to park. But both of MY SPOTS were taken. I parked in the other driveway, slammed my door and stormed into the house. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. (Before I heard the message that God had prepared to slap me up side the head with for good measure.) I was mad at nothing. I still parked my car safely. I didn’t have to walk any farther. In fact the only difference was I was on the east side of the house not the west side. It did not matter in the moment, in an hour, or in 5 years that I parked in a different place.
I was mad because I didn’t get what I thought I had coming to me. My life was not as expected. Someone had placed a car in my way, in MY SPOT.
Our reactions to situations almost always exceed the long-term consequences of the problem.
Someone cut you off in traffic. Will it matter 10 seconds later. No! So why react.
Your kids don’t do the dishes, and it is the end of the world. I can guarantee, that the dishes will come clean later. Look in my sink any time! It may be a teaching time for the kids on responsibility, but the reaction should fit the event.
People walk out of friendships, relationships, marriages, because they react to “someone parking a car in their way”. Their life in the moment is not what they expected. Yet, it will not matter 1 year, 5 years, 10 years from now!
It seems that if we react with grace and forgiveness, people will remember that 1 year, 5 years, maybe forever.
Change someones life today and under react. Then throw on grace and forgiveness. God did for you. Thanks Devin for your words!
Then he had some thoughts, so he blogged
I just want to repost what he said as it adds to what I said Sunday:
In MY Spot
A friend of mine was teaching on time during a New Years church service.
He asked 4 questions.
One really struck me. Will it matter in 1year, 5years, 10 years? This really made me think about how I react to any situation.
A small, but maybe a representative story that happened just minutes before I listened to the teaching.
I came home from doing our weekly nursing home church service and found, for what have become innumerable times, a car parked in my spot. I live in a duplex and we both have our own driveways, with room for 2 cars each. I have only a single vehicle so I graciously let my neighbor use my extra spot anytime. Recently this has escalated to both my spots being used.
Now lets set the big picture here. I have just spent almost 5 hours at church leading the first impressions team. In fact I spoke to my team before both services about how we need to love even those that rub us the wrong way. After that I spent almost 2 more hours providing a church service for people at a nursing home. When I pulled up and both MY spots were full I was angry. Yes there was plenty of space on the street, and even in the other driveway to park. But both of MY SPOTS were taken. I parked in the other driveway, slammed my door and stormed into the house. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. (Before I heard the message that God had prepared to slap me up side the head with for good measure.) I was mad at nothing. I still parked my car safely. I didn’t have to walk any farther. In fact the only difference was I was on the east side of the house not the west side. It did not matter in the moment, in an hour, or in 5 years that I parked in a different place.
I was mad because I didn’t get what I thought I had coming to me. My life was not as expected. Someone had placed a car in my way, in MY SPOT.
Our reactions to situations almost always exceed the long-term consequences of the problem.
Someone cut you off in traffic. Will it matter 10 seconds later. No! So why react.
Your kids don’t do the dishes, and it is the end of the world. I can guarantee, that the dishes will come clean later. Look in my sink any time! It may be a teaching time for the kids on responsibility, but the reaction should fit the event.
People walk out of friendships, relationships, marriages, because they react to “someone parking a car in their way”. Their life in the moment is not what they expected. Yet, it will not matter 1 year, 5 years, 10 years from now!
It seems that if we react with grace and forgiveness, people will remember that 1 year, 5 years, maybe forever.
Change someones life today and under react. Then throw on grace and forgiveness. God did for you. Thanks Devin for your words!
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