Bring it on

"Here's another old saying that deserves a second look: 'Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.' Is that going to get us anywhere? Here's what I propose: 'Don't hit back at all.' If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously. Matthew 5:39 (The Message)

I ran across a story I received from a friend a few years ago called the Law of the garbage truck. The story reminds us that in many people’s lives (sometimes including our own) there is anger, frustration, and disappointment. We fill up like a garbage truck until we can’t hold anymore. And then something happens and we “dump our junk” as my wife puts it. It may happen at an intersection or in a parking lot from a total stranger, or at work or home from those we know and love.

When the garbage truck dumps on us, we can choose to respond in one of two ways; in-kind, dumping our own garbage on someone, or we can respond in grace, forgiveness and love. Paul emphasized the desired outcome this way, “Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12. The story concludes with the Irving Berlin quote: "Life is 10 percent what you make it and 90 percent how you take it." Don’t let the garbage truck hijack even a moment of your day stealing the joy that God intended for there to be in it.

Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.