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It took everything within me not to reprimand someone at early voting today, so I’m choosing to vent to you instead…
When Actions Speak Louder {Daily Dash: October 23, 2024}
IN MY LIFE:
As I went to make use of one of the (free) study rooms at my local library to get some work done today, and possibly vote early, I witnessed something egregious before even getting out of my car.
Our library has a small parking lot with two one-way lanes. As I parked toward the end of one, a little convertible whipped in (going the wrong way) and proceeded to park in a hatched-off area where parking is forbidden. An older gentleman (I use that word loosely) got out and walked into the library.
Before I lost my cool, I tried to tell myself that perhaps there was an emergency: a wife who fell that he needed to come help, for example.
But No.
I ended up seeing him in the (very long) line to vote. What stood out even more is that he was wearing a hat with his candidate’s name on it.
It took everything within me not to go up to him and make a comment like, “Your actions in the parking lot just now make me not want to vote for your candidate.”
I hovered around the book stacks, debating (and even praying) what and if I should say anything to this man. I even thought about writing a note and leaving it on his car so as not to cause a scene.
Realistically, I knew I shouldn’t because it would come off as petty, judgmental, and circumstantial, regardless of the intent behind my concern. But that didn’t stop me from wanting to approach him.
Then I ran into a shepherd from my church in the study room next to mine.
Yes, I told him what I was thinking.
Yes, he told me that no matter what I said to him, he would still be a knucklehead.
No, I didn’t go say anything in the end.
No, I don’t think it was an accident that God placed someone I knew and trusted in my path to help me reflect and breathe before I said something I might regret.
So here I am telling you instead.
We can’t right every wrong in the world. Not just that, if I went and imposed my values and ideals upon him without him inviting me to do so, couldn’t my attempt be seen as equally offensive? If I don’t want God (& others) to judge me for every little thing I do, I need to step back and allow my Heavenly Father to handle matters like this and take them off of my personal legal docket.
There is a quote you’ve most likely heard that says “Preach The Gospel At All Times And If Necessary Use Words.” (often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, although there’s no proof of it in his writings). Today’s object lesson that I observed was the perfect example of that.
If anything, today was a reminder that our lives are always on display, whether we’re in the public eye or not. Whether it’s a voting year or not. Whether we think someone is watching us or not. Unlike social media, we don’t just get to share our highlight reels at the end of the day; we are accountable for everything we do and say with everyone we come in contact with.
(And before you ask, the candidate’s name doesn’t matter; it’s just a reminder that we are always representatives.)
It’s my prayer that today we would all stop, pray, and give grace…not only to others, but to ourselves as well.
IN THE NEWS:
- Vice President Harris will participate in a CNN town hall tonight
- E. coli outbreak in McDonald’s Quarter Pounders
- LeBron and Bronny James became the first father-son duo to play in an NBA game together
- TV Talk Show Host Day
IN THE WORD:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” – James 1:2-4 NIV
PRAYER FOCUS: Perseverance
Like it says in James 1:4, I pray we all mature enough in our faith to develop perseverance helps us finish the actual work we were put on this earth to do, that of loving God and loving others with that same love.
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I hope you have a great day, make sure you make it great, and do not wait to tell someone you love how you feel about them!
