Today’s scripture: 1 John 2:9-11 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (David Zier):
I see so many different things as I observe people.
- I watch someone put a door ding in someone else’s car and just walk away in a shopping center parking lot.
- Someone cuts in line at the convenience store and pretends not to see the ten people patiently waiting.
- Someone rushes down the street in their car to cut someone off that put their turn signal on to make a right turn off the highway.
- Someone takes another’s cart at Walmart and removes all the things in the cart and places them on a shelf, too lazy to get a cart for themselves at the front of the store.
- I watch as someone rushes in ahead to take their place at a gas pump, even though there was someone already waiting for it.
- And again, someone else rushes ahead to take a parking space, even though there was a car with their turn signal on, patiently waiting.
And this was all at lunch time. And all of this drove me nuts!
I can get really cynical after a series of events like this. I think that no one cares, everyone is out for themselves, we don’t treat each other well anymore, and on and on. And when I think like that, I begin to love less, and I begin to like people less. And I get really irritated with others and myself.
During this same lunch hour, someone in line at Walmart could not pay for everything they had in their cart, because they did not have enough on their food stamp card. And the people in line were annoyed because it was holding everyone up, as things needed to be put back and subtracted. But a kind soul stepped forward and helped pay for the items, and the person was able to get the food they needed for their family. The people in line seemed relieved that the line was moving, not really taking notice of the need or the generosity.
What amazed me about this lunch trip was how much we walk around in the dark. I found myself walking in the dark because each incident was making me feel a little more cynical, and a little more irritated at people in general. It was the woman who helped the family pay for their groceries who was walking in the light. As I reflected on this hour of my life and how I and others responded during each incident I saw or took part in, it made me think about this passage in 1 John. It also reminds me that Jesus tells us it is so easy to love others when they love us. But how well do we love others when they’re driving us nuts? Am I walking in the light, or walking in darkness?
Thought for the day: As I make my way through my day today, am I walking in darkness, or am I choosing to walk in the light?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.