Articles
How We Respond
Upfront I have to admit I hate controversy. I absolutely hate it! It gives me stomach pains. When we were building our house and something would be wrong Jody would let me know what was wrong and I had to contact the construction manager. I hated having to do that. When our house was damaged in a hailstorm and something was not right Jody would tell me and I had to contact the insurance company or the vendor. I hated having to do that. When a restaurant has my order wrong, I will just eat what they bring. I hate having to tell them it is incorrect. If the food is bad, I will just keep it to myself. “At church” when someone complains or fusses I just cringe. My first instinct is to just fix it and have the path of least resistance or the least amount of fussing take place.
Why is it that we feel compelled to let the young clerk at the department store “have it” because something is faulty with the item we purchased? Is it his or her fault? Are they in some kind of conspiracy to take advantage of us? Why is it, when at a restaurant, do we feel compelled to let the waiter or waitress have it when our food is not good? Are they in on some kind of conspiracy with the cook to make us miserable? Why do we feel compelled to let the manager know his staff or cook did a poor job? Is he/she there just for the purpose of making our eating out experience miserable? Why do we do that?
I wonder: when we behave like that, in what way does that person, who is recipient of our vitriol, see Christ in us? What kind of longsuffering are they seeing in us? What kind of mercy are they seeing in us? What kind of love are they seeing in us? In what way do we let Christ shine through us when we behave like that?
Maybe I ought to send back the incorrect order. Maybe my dislike for confrontation is not right. But it is not right to behave carnally like the world when our order is incorrect as well. As a child of God I ought to be reflecting Him in what I say and do. Others need to see Him in me even when things are not correct.
That waiter or young clerk is not going to walk away thinking, “I am sure glad that person is a Christian or I would really have been raked over the coals.” No, they are going to walk away thinking that person is miserable and resent our having been their customer.
Yes, items are faulty. Yes orders are wrong. But behaving like the devil is wrong too. Why not use the Golden Rule? Why not use the character of God who sends the rain on the just and unjust and causes the sun to shine on the just and unjust. He loved His enemies. Can I not at least act like I am considerate of the young person serving me?
Let’s not embarrass ourselves and others by our behavior. Let’s not dishonor our Father by our words and behavior. Let’s let our light shine for all to see the Father in us.
Rickie
