I do not know about you but sometimes I get so frustrated with people in America. They think they can do what they want without there ever being any consequences for their actions. It seems as though they think they are so special that they should never have to obey any rules or laws.
Recently a young man was killed while riding a bicycle by a person in a car due to the fact that the bicyclist pulled right out in front of the car. While I am sorry the young man died it is hard for me to have sympathy for him and his family. Does that make me mean or uncaring, I am not sure. You may have gone wow or you may be wondering why?
Bicyclist in our town do what they want and they expect everyone else around them to stop for them or to anticipate their actions. Now that is not 100% true, but it is a large majority. What do they do you ask? Well they go as fast as they want regardless of the posted speed limit, they do not stop for stop signs, they do not stop for red lights, they fly across the road at whatever point they want, they cut in front of you or make lane changes without ever giving a signal, they do not use reflectors or lights for riding at night, they ride on sidewalks zipping around people, and they will ride in the middle of the road for miles. In other words they behave very irresponsibly and yet it is always the motorists fault for when something happens to one of them as though we are to read their minds to know what stupid action they are going to do next.
I blame the parents for these kids and they are the ones that should be held accountable. Parents job is not to be the child’s friend, but to raise them as responsible people. However, parents these days are not home, they let the kids raise themselves, they do not set healthy boundaries, and they do not correct the child when he makes a serious mistake. In fact in a daycare near us they will not tell a very young child that is wrong, but that is not a good choice. What? I am not telling you that you cannot let your child be adventurous and try things, but there comes a point where you as a parent have to say NO. I reminded of a book called ‘Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man’s Soul” by John Eldredge as well as ‘Captivating: Unveiling The Mystery Of A Woman’s Soul‘ by John and Stasi Eldredge.
I get really frustrated with people at Walmart. They just seem to park where they want whether it be in a handicap spot and yet they are not handicapped nor do they have a sign to indicate as such, at the entrance to the store blocking the fire lane, zip across the parking lot, fly up and down the lanes, and failing to stop for people in the crosswalk. They all seem to be in a hurry to get no where and to spend their money as fast as possible.
I was driving around a mall and noticed the van ahead of me has his signal on. Well he passed the road that he should have turned on that led out, ie the right side of the road yet he decided to turn on into the incoming traffic lane. I blew my horn to alert him to his mistake. He stopped at an intersection and proceeded to call me a dumb ass. As it happens we were both going to the same store. I parked and simply told the guy in a calm matter that I was trying to alert him that he was on the wrong side of the road. He gets hot headed immediately and his comment was don’t you think I knew that? Really? My thought was no, but I did not say that. Instead of it stopping there, he decided to start to yell at me and threaten me by causing me bodily harm. I am not a huge guy about 5’10″and weigh around 260 pounds and my wife tells me I am very intimidating yet I do not see it. Anyway, I do not respond well to threats. I proceed to tell this individual to get out of the vehicle and to come hurt me. He keeps repeating his comments in different forms such as you do not know me, I will hurt you or I am going to get out of this van and physically hurt you, etc., but you get the picture. By this time I am fuming as my heart is starting race and I can feel the adrenaline coursing through my body, but also oddly enough I start laughing because I know he is all hot air. So I leave.
There are many other things that aggravate me about people. but the above happened recently.
I have two aggressive modes. I can be extremely confrontational and have done so on many occasions or I can be extremely passive aggressive and make comments loud enough for the person to hear so they will initiate the confrontation just so I can end it. People think I am out of control, but that is just an appearance, but my confrontations never end in any kind of physical violence although I have been threatened many times. Neither of these modes do I really think is Christian like behavior. When these situations arise, I am reminded of the verses below:
Ephesians 6:10-20 New International Version (NIV)
The Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
James 1:19-20 New International Version (NIV)
Listening and Doing
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
Ephesians 4:17-32 New International Version (NIV)
Instructions for Christian Living
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”[a]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
I wish these would pop into my head before I become confrontational. Should I be more compassionate, not easily angered, forgiving, say only kind things, etc.? Absolutely as it is what God has instructed me to do, but I tell you that it is very hard some days. However, I am getting better believe it or not. I pray that when you run into one of these situations, you will think of the verses before versus after.
You may be wondering when should you get angry about? Follow Jesus’s example and only get angry when someone offends the Lord. For example, before I became a Christian I use to take the Lords name in vein. I would not do it all the time, but this one occasion I did it in front of a Christian lady. She told me not to do that in a nice way, but you could tell that it offended her. I asked why, and she told me that it is was not correct because it offends the Lord. He has even asked us not to do so in the ten commandments. I respected her wishes, but it was a hard habit to break considering I grew up with that kind of language.