Christian Living

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A Humbling Experience
©
by

Stephen A. Peterson


I’ve prayed to God daily to be humble in day to day matters that require human interaction. Yet every so often members of the human family can raise your ire. While relaxing in the Shawnee Mall Wal-Mart Service Center’s McDonald’s Restaurant to eat an ice cream sundae, a woman loudly discussed her daughter’s lack of “common sense” to another woman. Why? The critical mother went to explain that her daughter, a recent college graduate, sought to negotiate what the woman believed was too a high income for one so young. I silently concluded, though, that her daughter merely expressed the all too common belief that once one obtains a college education he or she is entitled to whatever income they desire. Many young adults believe this because of their parents’ attitudes about money, rights and their possessions.

I had to bite my lip to keep from butting in. It was very difficult for me to listen and not explain to her that her daughter’s seemingly unrealistic desire for a high-pie-in-the-sky income has absolutely nothing to do with “common sense”. While she went on and on about her daughter’s demand, I debated slapping some duct tape over my mouth when I remembered an event that happened when I was just 11 years old.

I thought it would be an easy job to go around to pick up used, discarded pop bottles then redeem them for money. While pushing a rusty grocery cart around picking up bottles, I overhear three 5 to 7 year old girls talking about babies. One of the girls asked, “Jaime is it really true how babies come home? Does our mom or dad go pick them up out of a cabbage patch?’

I opened my mouth and began to say, “No, the mom____.” When I stopped myself, realizing that I had no business talking to these three very young girls about babies and human sexuality. So I said, “Why don’t you girls ask your moms about babies. I gotta go.”

Another one of the other girls asked, “Do you know how babies get here? If you do, what’s wrong with telling us? We’re not gonna tell anybody.” The girl first wanting know where babies came from whispered loud enough so I could hear what she was saying, “He said we have to ask our moms. He’s doing that because I don’t think he really knows either. He’s older but he’s dumb.”

After all of these years, I can still remember, even though I was embarrassed by three girls, I can snicker to myself at the idea that they thought I didn’t know something I did have some knowledge about—not a whole lot but some. Apparently it seems, I still have a great deal of work to accomplish in this area. So in MacDonald’s I kept my mouth shut. I did not butt in to tell this mother that her daughter’s desire for a high-pie-in-the-sky income has nothing to do with common sense. Or when did she re-call anybody being hired on the basis of common sense.

I have learned that many people abide by the saying, “Don’t confuse me with the f acts. I’ll believe what I want to believe regardless of facts.” Would I have contributed to her knowledge? Probably not. Jesus came to the world with truth, peace, unconditional love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion. Yet the majority of the people of His time rejected Him. To this day, the 42 months of Jesus’ documented life in the Bible is more hotly debated than at any time in human history. Although Jesus’ life is more know than any human life that has ever lived, those who hate Him work hard at finding flaws in His life only to find not a single thing. So they make up defects based upon their own flaws as though it is truth.

I have also learned that truth cannot be compromised and, as Christ has said, will be found because it cannot be covered up or hidden by anyone. It becomes easier when I ask God to help me mind my own business and allow Him to work in the minds and hearts of unbelieving people. After all it is not what I say that will alter the course of human history but what Christ does through me, He really wants me to speak on His behalf. If they reject Him, they condemn themselves.

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