I’ve
never had Ebola, but recently I did come in contact with something just as
nasty. It
came my way in one of those loud-talking-stranger-in-the-waiting-room kind of experiences.
“That
crazy
Lisa wears sandals EVERY DAY”.
“
Why would anyone want an ugly
chair like this?”
“Those
stupid
people got my order wrong.”
The
poor dear (Southernism for big ol ugly of spirit)
was infected to the core with a
nasty case of MWITRW.
My
Way Is The Right Way.
Isn’t
it funny how "ugly" is so easy to diagnose in others,
but so easily hidden in our own lives?
but so easily hidden in our own lives?
Several days after
the nasty encounter with
Ms. MWITRW
I heard it pop out of my own mouth.
Ms. MWITRW
I heard it pop out of my own mouth.
“What a
waste of time that is.”
I was immediately struck to the heart.
MWITRW claims another victim.
It
really bothered me,
this glimpse of ugly in my heart.
this glimpse of ugly in my heart.
I knew it was deadly and needed surgery,
so I took it to prayer and the Word.
Sure enough, when the scalpel cut back
the flesh of my heart, the sin was exposed.
so I took it to prayer and the Word.
Sure enough, when the scalpel cut back
the flesh of my heart, the sin was exposed.
Sin?
Yes, sin.
Romans
12:3 tells us that we should not have
an elevated view of ourselves,
in comparing with others.
an elevated view of ourselves,
in comparing with others.
We should
compare with what God has given us,
not what we have within ourselves.
In my dealings with others, I realize,
sadly,
that I have not followed that mandate.
I’m
not talking about morality, sin, Biblical truths. I’m talking about day-to-day lifestyle choices.
I
judged friends who ate at restaurants often.
It seems like to me, a frivolous luxury.
It was a huge adjustment for us
early in our marriage,
my strong feelings about “wasted” food money.
It seems like to me, a frivolous luxury.
It was a huge adjustment for us
early in our marriage,
my strong feelings about “wasted” food money.
I
judged people by where they
bought their clothes,
bought their clothes,
kind of a reverse snob
thing.
I’m a second-hand,
consignment,
thrift store lover and was
harsh in my views of others choices.
thrift store lover and was
harsh in my views of others choices.
I
judged people on their recreational activity.
I cannot fathom the attraction to sports,
and it is beyond my comprehension how anyone
derives pleasure from watching
other people throwing, hitting or chasing a ball.
I cannot fathom the attraction to sports,
and it is beyond my comprehension how anyone
derives pleasure from watching
other people throwing, hitting or chasing a ball.
You
name it, I judged it.
I even caught myself glancing into grocery carts
and judging their contents.
I even caught myself glancing into grocery carts
and judging their contents.
Sigh…like I said... ugly.
Thankfully,
the Book of Wisdom shined its light
on my mind and helped me to understand the
TRUTH.
on my mind and helped me to understand the
TRUTH.
MWITRW is not the disease,
it is the symptom of the real disease.
The disease of pride.
it is the symptom of the real disease.
The disease of pride.
Some things are not a
matter of
better, wiser or right.
In judging others choices I was
pridefully elevating my own.
better, wiser or right.
In judging others choices I was
pridefully elevating my own.
The sin of pride leads us to draw conclusions
that God does not draw.
For example, how one should enjoy roses.
You can grow roses in the desert.
If you are willing to haul in dirt, amend the soil,
import
the plant,
drag water out to them every day
drag water out to them every day
and shelter them from blistering
sun.
Or you could invest in a bouquet
from the florist
every once in awhile.
every once in awhile.
For
a rose gardener the
financial cost, energy cost, daily time investment
could be worth the high commitment.
The bountiful bouquets might hold
enormous reward for them.
For someone else, who merely admires roses
but does not find value in the cultivating process,
it could be a drudgery, burden, and dread.
financial cost, energy cost, daily time investment
could be worth the high commitment.
The bountiful bouquets might hold
enormous reward for them.
For someone else, who merely admires roses
but does not find value in the cultivating process,
it could be a drudgery, burden, and dread.
How
foolish it would be for one to
judge the other by their own feelings.
judge the other by their own feelings.
“My crazy sister who lives in the
desert
wastes time, water and energy growing roses,
how foolish is that?”
wastes time, water and energy growing roses,
how foolish is that?”
Or
“My crazy brother,
he wastes money ordering roses from a florist."
he wastes money ordering roses from a florist."
Both ideas assume
MWITRW
both rooted in pride of ones own opinion.
That
is how it is in life.
What one person chooses to invest in
may not be the choice of another.
One is not better, one is not wiser,
it is simply a matter of choice.
One may spend their money eating out,
while another spends that same money
on music, garden plants or books.
What one person chooses to invest in
may not be the choice of another.
One is not better, one is not wiser,
it is simply a matter of choice.
One may spend their money eating out,
while another spends that same money
on music, garden plants or books.
One
may purchase expensive clothing at designer shops,
while another spends the same amount
on a vacation, hobby or fishing equipment.
while another spends the same amount
on a vacation, hobby or fishing equipment.
As long as they are honoring God
first and best with their money,
these choices are neither right or wrong,
they are merely choices.
So
the next time I’m tempted to criticize
someone for growing roses in the desert,
or for buying
roses from the florist,
I’m going to take out my pruning sheers of wisdom
and nip pride in its
and nip pride in its
ugly bud.