496…496…496…….
It had been a long day and it had been a long weekend prior. I was heading to my car, parked in the west lot, near the steps to the nave portico. As I walked to my vehicle and began loading it, I noticed a man ambling westward down the Market Street sidewalk. As he went, I heard him speak to no one in particular, “496….496….496.” I found myself thinking, “Probably a resident of one of the nearby group homes.” It was an unkind thought on my part. For then I heard him say, “496-24--!” (The last numbers I’ve not written here for privacy reasons) and I realized that he was speaking on his cell phone, using a Bluetooth device, giving the person with whom he was speaking, a phone number!
I was really disappointed in myself on so many levels. I made a quick, unfair, unkind, judgment upon another person. I assumed some things about him that were dead wrong. I was ashamed of myself. I resolved then and there to think better of others as much as I possibly can.
Why do we do this sort of thing? We have all kinds of reasons of course. We do this to keep ourselves safe – strangers can’t be trusted and they might hurt us. We do this out of our own insecurities, prejudices, and narrow mindedness – different often translates into bad for us. We do this to puff ourselves up – there are some folks who feel better about themselves when they put other persons down.
What would Jesus do? About us? He forgives us and calls upon us to do better and be kinder to others. About others? He has told us in so many ways to love! Love God with everything we’ve got and love others as much as we love ourselves, and maybe even more than that!
Check out “the Greatest Commandments.” You’ll find them in Matthew 22:37-40.
Pastor Kevin T. Shively
Pastor Kevin T. Shively - 6.22.2010 10:37 AM
Past Reflections
496…496…496……. - Pastor Kevin T. Shively - 6.22.2010 10:37 AM
DO WE LIVE THE STORY? - Pr. Kevin T. Shively - 5.15.2010 04:06 PM
PRESENT REALITY AND FUTURE HOPE - Pastor Kevin T. Shively - 4.14.2010 03:56 PM
A WAKE UP CALL - Pastor Kevin T. Shively - 2.22.2010 09:22 AM
WHAT CAN I GIVE __________? - Pastor Kevin Shively - 12.15.2009 07:07 PM
LIVING LOVE… - Pastor Shively - 10.9.2009 02:49 PM
“FEED MY SHEEP” - Pr. Kevin T. Shively - 8.27.2009 07:18 PM
JESUS, JUSTICE, JAZZ! - Pastor Kevin Shively - 7.27.2009 01:53 PM
A-B-C - Pr. Shively - 6.18.2009 06:54 PM
WHEN? - Pastor Kevin Shively - 4.30.2009 01:06 PM
FOOLS FOR GOD - Pr. Kevin T. Shively - 4.3.2009 08:30 AM
Why Put Off Until Tomorrow… - Pr. Kevin T. Shively - 3.25.2009 08:17 AM
WHEN YOU… - Rastor Shively - 2.28.2009 08:24 PM
WSIDAAFOJ? - Pastor Shively - 1.26.2009 03:48 PM
A “New” New Year? - Pastor Kevin Shively - 12.30.2008 01:21 PM