“Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, being jealous of one another.” (Galatians 5:19-26)
Yesterday afternoon I was leaving Lowes in my truck after picking a few things. I was stopped at the light waiting make a left hand turn onto on Highway 72. The left turn light turned green and I pulled out into the intersection beginning to turn left. Suddenly a car that ran the red light came wiping around trying to turn left into the Lowes parking lot. I had to slam on my brakes and the car had swerve right to avoid hitting me in my passenger fender. My window was open and I raised my hand and asked the driver, “What are you doing?” The elderly black lady driving the blue SUV looked at me and gave me the finger as she swerved past me into the Lowes parking lot. I made my left hand turn, then hung a U-turn and pulled into the Lowes parking lot.
I searched the parking lot and saw the Blue SUV pulling into a handicapped parking space in the front of the store. I pulled my truck in front of the SUV and got out of my truck. The elderly black lady, who appeared to be in her late 70s early 80s and saw me and her eyes got wide. As she was getting out of the car I approached her and I asked her, “Why did you tell me to “F*ck off” back there? The lady was flustered and replied, “I can’t believe you turned around and came back and followed me.” I again said, “Do you know me? Why did you tell me to F*ck off” at the intersection?” Her husband who was exiting the passenger door walked around the car and walked around towards me and told me to leave his wife alone. I replied to him so both he and his wife could hear, “Sir, I was making a left turn at the light. And your wife broke the law and ran the red light and almost hit me head on. When I asked her what she was doing, instead of waving back, and maybe saying so sorry or something like that, she flipped my the bird basically saying “F*ck you white boy!” and drove off. And I want to know why she did that.
This startled the husband and again the woman said, “I can’t believe you turned around and followed me.” I told her, I will tell you why. It is people like you who are making evil, hateful, remarks to people who are ruining the world. People like you who think just because they are “distant” and safe behind a computer of phone screen that they can post hateful and racial messages. Or the President and politicians because they are insulated by their position and power that they can call people evil, hateful, racial names. And people like you who because they think they are isolated in their car can tell me hatefully and racially, “f*ck you white boy” and think it is ok! It is like you feel your were entitled to break the law, run a red light, and I deserved it. I then said, “What is this word coming to when 80 year old elderly women are telling people to “Fuck Off.”
The lady replied, “I was not being a racist.” I repleid, “So if I was black you would have told me to “Fuck off” all the same. She was quite. The elderly lady was wearing a sweater but underneath it I could see she was wearing a T Shirt that had “Jesus” and “Joy” on it as part of it’s message. I told her I stopped to let you know though you may seem to be isolated to be isolated that “Jesus” who is on your shirt see’s you and know your heart and what you did. I turned and began to walk away and then turned again and said, “And mam, I do love Jesus as well. However, the next person you tell to “F*ck off” may not and may have a gun. Why would you want to put yourself in that position.
When I got home later that day I shared this story with my wife. She said “No Way!” That is crazy! As I got flipped off by a person who almost hit me today as well. And she shared with me her story.
Unfortunately, everyone today seems so quick to say or respond with evil, hateful, racial words. Even sweet elderly ladies. Even the President of our country where all men and women are created equal routinely enjoys trashing people’s character, degrading them, and speaking over them hateful, evil, racist words. It is almost like it is the norm now in both politics, social media, and everyday encounters with people. We seem to think now we are entitled to trash people. We are not.
My family, I pray today you will take time to get away from the noise of this world and rest in The Holy Spirit. Read the passage from Galatians above again. I pray you will ask they Holy Spirit to free your heart and mind from the spirit of hate and animosity that is moving in the world today and re-kindle a true spirit of love for neighbor, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your thoughts and comments in the comments box below.
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