Right Back atcha'!

Reaction Retribution Retaliation Revenge Reckoning

This, my friends, is a preacher's list of dream words. Not that any of them are Redeeming.....oops, did it again. They are dream words because they all start with 'Re'. It is no secret that pastors often give three points in a sermon and all Revolve around a common letter of the alphabet. We Relish this. Learned that in seminary!

Actually, the first five words of this blog are good descriptors of what is happening in our country right now. The last seven days have been wrought with all these 'Re' words and more. It's sad, because our nation started out as one nation indivisible and now it is divisible.

For the last seven days, my truck battery has been hinting of its terminal condition. Every time I have turned the key, the starter has been sluggishly turning over and eventually starting the vehicle. The colder weather seems to have a way of Revealing weak batteries. After crunching some numbers, it was determined we could afford to get a new battery for the truck so we priced and found our 'go to' store.

(Photo cred: www.bing.com/shop.advanceautoparts.com)

Yesterday, I decided to get the new battery. As I stood in my office working, I thought about dropping into the store right at noon. The beauty of my plan included a circuit of errands as I traveled on out the road. Perfect! As the morning carried on, I began to think about noon in an autoparts store. That is lunch time. It is also a time when more people drop in on their lunchbreak to buy parts. Hmmm,

I decided to leave the office an hour and fifteen minutes early. My main motivation was focused on those working in the store and trying to squeeze in a lunch break while needy customers could line up three and four deep at the counter.

I ordered the battery online, purchased it, and headed to the store. The sales associate quickly grabbed the battery, completed the sales transaction and the other associate grabbed the tool cart and away we went to change the battery. Benefit number one for going to this store was the 'free installation'!

As he worked, I talked. He was efficient and informative. I mentioned about coming earlier and away from noon time (Their lunchtime). He thanked me. He then informed me the managers try to plan the noontime window differently than the rest of the day so that employees can get their lunch and customers can be served with a fair amount of seamless service. Nice!! I thanked him for that. Even as I tried to be thoughtful of the employees of the store, they were already trying to be sensitive to the needs of their employees and customers. Right Back atcha! Sweet!

This morning I am daydreaming of a nation of individuals who could possibly set aside our own agendas and axes that need grinding and simply begin to focus on the needs of others around us. I know this utopian place cannot exist....not here on this earth. Sadly, God's original design in the Garden of Eden disappeared quickly in light of humanity's decision making and our insatiable need for just a little bit more. (The snake, the fruit, the illusion of God withholding, and the decision to eat the fruit)

Our life is a brief whisper in God's story and each moment of our life should be offered to bring glory to God and not in destroying another human being. Thinking more of others and less of ourselves is a good first step. When Reaction, Retribution, Retaliation, Revenge, Reckoning, supercede Redemption, Regeneration, and Reconciliation then we are doomed. Let's change course and Reinvest into our God given Responsibility to love.

"As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can

work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Having said this, he spit on the ground, made

some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam”

(this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing." (John 9:4-7, NIV)

I Really shouldn't say this, but you can Reinvest into the human race and Rediscover the purpose for which God called you. Shalom,