On the way home from our weekly lunch date with Dad today, I listened to a very convicting conversation on the radio. They were discussing the way we interact with one another as Chrsitians, and even as strangers. I tuned in when they were talking about how we live in a world full of distractions, and how our attention is almost always divided between the people we are actually speaking to, and what is going on at work, or Facebook, or the overwhelming need to check our phones. (Convicted!) He talked about how Jesus was always busy and being pulled in different directions, but always stopped to give his full attention to people. I sometimes forget how important this is! We have all had those awkward moments when we are trying to talk about something we feel is important, and the other person checks their phone, or tunes into something else rather than what you're saying. It feels so nice to be able to talk to someone and really feel like they're listening! They also talked about how we do this with complete strangers, whether it be customer service on the phone, or traffic, or the slow person at the grocery store. Don't they know we don't have time for that? We don't have time to drive 5 mph slower, we don't have time to smile and be patient as you scan 20 coupons that don't work, and we CERTAINLY don't have time to show kindness after we have been on hold for 20 minutes with 5 different recordings only to talk to a person with an accent we can't understand. They brought up Hebrews 10:34 and how these Christians joyfully accepted the plundering of their properties to help their brothers/sisters in prison. They said that the decision to be joyful doesn't take place only when your things are being plundered, it is an attitude that is cultivated in the Christian over time and endurance of much smaller plunderings, such as that extra 5 minutes you spent in traffic this morning. I know that God works all things for our good and His glory. I know that he is continuously sanctifying us. It just seems so easy to justify my impatience and lack of attentiveness because, of course, I'm a busy person! Sigh. I'm so selfish! I can so easily forget that my purpose in life is to live for the glory of God, and my bad attitude certainly doesn't glorify Him. Unfortunately, my family....you know, the ones I love so dearly, are usually on the receiving end of my impatience. I supposed it is time, again, to purge the unnecessary distractions from my life.
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved,compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:12-14
