Wednesday, April 22, 2015

It's not easy being merciful

Monday, April 20 

Yesterday, as I drove home yesterday on I-76 in 30 mph traffic, an impatient driver barely grazed past my car as it cut suddenly in front of mine. Always the one for retributive traffic justice, I honked at the driver. The aforementioned driver stuck up his middle finger and later swerved back to the other lane in front of another car, all the while sticking his digit out of the window. With no hesitation I started reciting the car’s license plate numbers, feeling that if I could do something with that information (I don’t know…), then justice would be served. It’s incredible how long and hard we can hold onto grudges against those who have wronged us.

Reading David’s eulogy for the fallen King Saul felt like a rebuke coming straight from God. King Saul wanted to kill David! He forced David to flee and hide. My traffic incident pales in comparison to the threats that David faced, yet David demonstrated much more mercy towards him than I ever did to my traffic offender. David went beyond what ordinary people are able to do, praising Saul and mourning over his death. I am reminded of the infinite grace bestowed upon me, and the mercy that our Father lavishes on me.  Even though this has been an embarrassing confession of my personal battles with anger, I’m thankful that God draws out these sins from deep within me into a light so that I may be able to recognize them and cast them out of my life.


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