I've never really understood the whole Road Rage thing. I'm not saying that I don't occasionally get the ever-living cr*p scared out of me and react in a negative way. But for the most part, I just go along with the flow of traffic without the need to control the road and think that I'm the only one out there that has some place he really needs to be. Shoe is the same way. He picks his lane and stays in it. He's one of about three people I know that I'm not afraid to be a passenger in his car.
I am a little troubled by those of you who do just the opposite. And it's not that you just think you are the most important people on the road. What bugs me is that you BRAG about it! You see this complete lack of consideration for anyone else as a positive character attribute and you wear it like a Badge!
In a men's accountability group, I made the casual remark one time that "They can't cut you off, if you wave them on over." A truck driver in the group turned purple and looked as though he wanted to choke me to death!
CONSIDERATE. What does it mean? What does it look like? When did it go away? Will it ever come back?
I'm not even going to attempt to answer these questions. My guess is that the whole concept of being considerate, if it EVER did exist, is long gone and will never be recovered! CONSIDERATE.
I just don't know of a single example of consideration that I can even offer as a point of reference. I've hung around Christians most of my life. I'm trying to think of just one good example from among them. No! It's not gonna happen. In fact, in general, they continue to be some of the MOST inconsiderate people I know. Christians should be taking the lead. Not so much!
In my faith tradition, we are still very much into labels! We want to know if that bunch on the corner is a liberal church or a conservative church? We MUST know! And every congregation MUST take on a label! Now that I'm getting older, I am less and less interested in labels. I just want to know if that bunch on the corner is a considerate church?
In case you are wondering, chances are that they are NOT! It usually looks like this: At some point in their past, they have made some SIGNIFICANT change. I'm not talking about paint color. I'm talking about a major doctrinal change! They act as though they prayed about it. They act as though their theology justifies it. But when they announced their prayerful decision, they said something along these lines: "This is what we have decided to do. Some of you are not going to like it and you are most likely going to leave. Please do not let the door hit you on the back-side on your way out." Are you KIDDING me? God told you to make an announcement without any consideration for others? God told you to run people off and split a church right down the middle? God actually instructed you to be inconsiderate?
INCONSIDERATE! Now, take that same situation and apply it to EVERY situation on the GLOBE! The living room, the bedroom, the classroom, the work place, the PTA, the booster club, the highways, the City Hall, the State Capitol, the halls of Congress, the White House, the Middle East, Moscow, North Korea.......I simply don't care what you put in the blank. Humanity's blatant refusal to be considerate of others is the undoing of our society.
With a complete LACK of consideration for others, from the bedroom to the boardroom, millions of DECISIONS are made EVERY day that keep all of us slipping down the mudslide to Hell!
Being considerate is easier to talk about than it is to practice. Trust me, I know. I'm the one who spoke of being surrounded by idiots just seven days ago.
But, let's just try to take baby steps. Let's try to at least stop bragging about this obvious character flaw. Let's stop being proud of rude, inconsiderate behavior. Let's just see what positive things might arise if we just wave them on over?
Monday, June 10, 2013
Monday, June 3, 2013
Surrounded By Idiots!
As I sit and write my 20th entry into this little social experiment, I am anxious as to whether or not I'm beginning to be repetitively redundant. I certainly am not going to go back an read the prior 19 entries. So, I'm in a position where I'm just going to write what's swimming around in my twisted mind.
As far back as I can remember in my life, the biggest problem I've had to endure is that seemingly, I have ALWAYS been surrounded by idiots. I don't know if you can relate, or not. I mean IDIOTS! I find it almost impossible to describe.
In grade school, in high school, in college, in church, on the job....I'm talking about the real deal here. I mean IDIOTS! I've asked the question time and time again. Stainless and Shoe no longer pretend to even provide an answer. I implore them, with all the sincerity I can muster, "Why are things so APPARENT to me, that are LOST on everyone else in my life?"
Some readers of this post will identify with me completely. A second group will surmise, "What a pathetic, sad life you lead, Kevin!" There is no doubt in my mind that the second group's conclusion is the most accurate.
I've already addressed the under-lying issues that plague me in this regard. Self-centeredness, egomania, fear. These three defects wrap themselves around an incredible inferiority complex and the result is just one hot mess.....minus the hot! Triple the mess!
Consequently, I DON'T DO YOU very well. The person in front of me with 11 items in the "10 Item Express Lane", the person in the car in front of me, the customer of my little company, the leader in my church, the preacher on the radio......and sadly the closest friend in my life, and the loved ones living under my roof.... I find it difficult to tolerate you.....whoever you are! It's really not that funny. It really is that sad!
One of the spiritual advisers from my past that I have yet to mention is man I'll simply call Lucky. Lucky used to end every conversation with the declaration, "Kevin, you are a beautiful child of God." It made me so tense and uncomfortable! I simply did not want to believe it. But, on the days that I do believe it, I have to believe it about EVERY person that I mentioned above.
The life principle of "Live and Let Live" is for me, the single most difficult principle I have to employ on a daily basis. I am much more fluent in the problem than I am the solution. Deep down in my soul, I am fully aware that after I've run into the 3rd or 4th idiot in my day, it might just be that I need to look in the mirror. I need to find the common denominator between me and all these idiots.
The answer is crystal clear.
As far back as I can remember in my life, the biggest problem I've had to endure is that seemingly, I have ALWAYS been surrounded by idiots. I don't know if you can relate, or not. I mean IDIOTS! I find it almost impossible to describe.
In grade school, in high school, in college, in church, on the job....I'm talking about the real deal here. I mean IDIOTS! I've asked the question time and time again. Stainless and Shoe no longer pretend to even provide an answer. I implore them, with all the sincerity I can muster, "Why are things so APPARENT to me, that are LOST on everyone else in my life?"
Some readers of this post will identify with me completely. A second group will surmise, "What a pathetic, sad life you lead, Kevin!" There is no doubt in my mind that the second group's conclusion is the most accurate.
I've already addressed the under-lying issues that plague me in this regard. Self-centeredness, egomania, fear. These three defects wrap themselves around an incredible inferiority complex and the result is just one hot mess.....minus the hot! Triple the mess!
Consequently, I DON'T DO YOU very well. The person in front of me with 11 items in the "10 Item Express Lane", the person in the car in front of me, the customer of my little company, the leader in my church, the preacher on the radio......and sadly the closest friend in my life, and the loved ones living under my roof.... I find it difficult to tolerate you.....whoever you are! It's really not that funny. It really is that sad!
One of the spiritual advisers from my past that I have yet to mention is man I'll simply call Lucky. Lucky used to end every conversation with the declaration, "Kevin, you are a beautiful child of God." It made me so tense and uncomfortable! I simply did not want to believe it. But, on the days that I do believe it, I have to believe it about EVERY person that I mentioned above.
The life principle of "Live and Let Live" is for me, the single most difficult principle I have to employ on a daily basis. I am much more fluent in the problem than I am the solution. Deep down in my soul, I am fully aware that after I've run into the 3rd or 4th idiot in my day, it might just be that I need to look in the mirror. I need to find the common denominator between me and all these idiots.
The answer is crystal clear.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
I Think I Might Vomit!
It's Thursday evening and I'm exhausted. I am not in a "blogging" frame of mind. In fact, this particular entry should probably not be posted. This topic truly does belong in a REAL Therapist's office. But, the only therapist I ever trusted is in his 80's now and did not return my last call six months ago. I kind of always thought I was counseling him, anyway. Go figure!
One week ago today, I was in the throes of a pity party meltdown. I will spare you the details. (Remember? I'm not THAT transparent either!) Let's just suffice it to say, it was UGLY. I did take a few hostages that day that bore the brunt of my selfish ramblings. But as you may have guessed, Stainless caught more of it than most.
Within just a few hours, I received a phone call making me aware me that my problem would be solved this week. Pride and ego are preventing me from telling the whole story. But the fact is, I was informed that I was about to be the recipient of an OVERWHELMING act of kindness and generosity. Who? Me? NO! Not me!
Why is being on the receiving end so difficult? What tells us we are not worthy? Why do we think that we do not deserve an act of kindness that others are seemingly so eager and willing to perform?
Stubborn? Stainless just called it plain stubborn! He kind of softened the blow by saying he has the same tendency. But, he turned it on me and said that I would actually be in the wrong if I remained so stubborn and actually ROBBED someone of their joy from doing this kind act for me!
Wait a minute! Let me digest that. If I refuse the act of kindness, I am STEALING their joy? The GIVER feels joy and the RECEIVER feels like he needs to vomit? What is wrong with this picture?
I'm reminded of the old preacher's story that everyone has heard who's ever sat through more than five sermons. It's about the man who climbs to his roof top as flood waters rise around his house. When the neighbor, in a canoe paddles up offering aid, the man says, "No thanks! God will save me!" The same thing happens when the Fire Department comes up in a motor boat. "No thanks! God will save me!" The scenario is the same when a helicopter hovers above offering to drop a safety rope ladder. "No thanks! God will save me!"
Obviously, the man drowns and goes to meet his Maker. The first question out of his mouth was "God, why didn't you save me?" To which, God replied, "I sent a canoe, a ski boat, and helicopter! I was kind of running out of ideas!"
I claim to trust God, yet I am still inclined to spurn His kids when He sends them my way. I will need a few more days before I can truly appreciate this blessing. And truthfully, I do feel a little ill. Unworthy. Undeserving. Yet, right at this very moment, I feel gratitude. So grateful, that in spite of myself, I was willing to jump into the canoe!
One week ago today, I was in the throes of a pity party meltdown. I will spare you the details. (Remember? I'm not THAT transparent either!) Let's just suffice it to say, it was UGLY. I did take a few hostages that day that bore the brunt of my selfish ramblings. But as you may have guessed, Stainless caught more of it than most.
Within just a few hours, I received a phone call making me aware me that my problem would be solved this week. Pride and ego are preventing me from telling the whole story. But the fact is, I was informed that I was about to be the recipient of an OVERWHELMING act of kindness and generosity. Who? Me? NO! Not me!
Why is being on the receiving end so difficult? What tells us we are not worthy? Why do we think that we do not deserve an act of kindness that others are seemingly so eager and willing to perform?
Stubborn? Stainless just called it plain stubborn! He kind of softened the blow by saying he has the same tendency. But, he turned it on me and said that I would actually be in the wrong if I remained so stubborn and actually ROBBED someone of their joy from doing this kind act for me!
Wait a minute! Let me digest that. If I refuse the act of kindness, I am STEALING their joy? The GIVER feels joy and the RECEIVER feels like he needs to vomit? What is wrong with this picture?
I'm reminded of the old preacher's story that everyone has heard who's ever sat through more than five sermons. It's about the man who climbs to his roof top as flood waters rise around his house. When the neighbor, in a canoe paddles up offering aid, the man says, "No thanks! God will save me!" The same thing happens when the Fire Department comes up in a motor boat. "No thanks! God will save me!" The scenario is the same when a helicopter hovers above offering to drop a safety rope ladder. "No thanks! God will save me!"
Obviously, the man drowns and goes to meet his Maker. The first question out of his mouth was "God, why didn't you save me?" To which, God replied, "I sent a canoe, a ski boat, and helicopter! I was kind of running out of ideas!"
I claim to trust God, yet I am still inclined to spurn His kids when He sends them my way. I will need a few more days before I can truly appreciate this blessing. And truthfully, I do feel a little ill. Unworthy. Undeserving. Yet, right at this very moment, I feel gratitude. So grateful, that in spite of myself, I was willing to jump into the canoe!
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