Did he just honk at me?
I glanced over my shoulder to see a middle-aged man waving his hands impatiently and pointing at my husband’s truck. I took a deep breath, conscious of the presence of my thirteen-year-old daughter watching how I would respond. I had carefully navigated the huge vehicle through the mostly empty parking lot and pulled all the way through a space so that I wouldn't have the embarrassing task of trying to back out. I felt victorious that the front bumper lined up almost perfectly with its neighbors and I was centered perfectly. And now I was being honked at.
The man was infuriated that my back bumper was not fully into my parking spot. He had, unbeknownst to me, pulled in behind me and was concerned that I was taking up part of the space he was attempting to occupy.
The August heat reflected off the ground as I walked back to the truck. I weighed my options. Flipping him off was tempting but definitely not charitable. Approaching an angry man in a parking lot was definitely not prudent. So I swallowed my pride, practiced my temperance, and swung my middle-aged backside into the truck to move it forward six inches.
How we respond to others, criticism, critique, horn honking, gives us a chance to show our true character. Do I want to be a hypocrite like the Pharisee pointing out the sin of the other and boasting of my own righteousness? Do I do this to my friends and family? Am I more likely to honk my horn at someone, or do I extend a little more grace and offer someone else some space? Do I answer rudeness with more rudeness?
Sister, when you are confronted with difficult people in your life, take a moment and think about your role. Is it your role to instruct, or is it to learn and grow in virtue?
LOVING GOD, LOVING OTHERS
A NEW WORKSHOP
COME BACK TO FIRST LOVE
