Saturday, September 26, 2015

Grace vs Karma

Have you ever been shocked by a person's reaction to a trivial traffic incident? (Think road rage over a driver pulling out of a parking place or something equally harmless, but it delayed said driver from pulling into a parking place and the driver is livid.) Of course, it looks much worse when the offended driver who is now honking, racing down the road to pull in front the offender to slam on his/her. brakes to make a point has a bumper full of God Loves You stickers. I've never once heard anyone utter Hypocritical Jew, Hypocritical Muslim, Hypocritical Athiest! (I am certain there are hypocrites in all faiths and walks of life.)

Why not extend a little grace to the offender instead of gleefully posting Karma will slap the offender and you are sorry you will not witness it? In the grand scheme of things - do you really need to lose it over something so trivial? Did it really, really, negatively impact your life? Does the Bible call us to honk, call someone names, give the offender the international salute or forgive?

Of course situations in life cause us to become angry and or upset. How do we deal with them? Mercy and grace or sin? Possibly all 3. (Think repentance after passing the slow driver on a mountain pass on the Labor Day weekend and finally praying for him because obviously he was frightened driving over La Veta Pass at 30 mph.) Did I honk or salute him? No. 25 years ago, I would have made sure he understood he annoyed me, I've learned a lot since then. People have extended grace my way. The Lord extends grace to me each day.

The Bible tells us:

For by the standard you judge you will be judged, and the measure you use will be the measure you receive. Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to see the beam of wood in your own? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye,’ while there is a beam in your own?

Be a blessing, extend grace today.

2 comments:

Wendy said...

Yes, as we age we mellow - or at least some of us. Drivers don't bother me any more either. I do send them a blessing if my first reaction is to feel annoyed. I stop for a minute and think "maybe that person is unsure of where they are going. I've done that too" - for someone who is driving too slow.

If someone pulls in front of me, or takes my parking space, I just laugh. Maybe they need the space more than I do. I thank God every day that I have a car, that I can walk freely and easily, and go wherever I want (my dear sister is younger than I and confined to her home due to chronic illness. I always think of her when I jump out of bed in the morning or clomp into my car and just go! Others don't have that freedom). Sorry - this is turning out to be a looooong comment.

Just wanted to say - thanks for posting. A good reminder for us all. I'm not Always patient, but most of the time I am, and it does come with age (and more time on my hands. LOL).

Abba's Girl said...

We sound very similar in attitude Wendy.