I have issues. I think I have made that clear. It is always fascinating to me what God uses to bring my issues up out of the recesses of my soul to the forefront. LeBron has done it this time. Well, LeBron hasn't actually done anything but the issue has come up inside of me because of what LeBron did by leaving Cleveland. It has made me examine what I love so much about hating. I could have easily used the Pittsburgh Steelers but I know some of their fans read this blog and they would just smile their smug little 5-1 smiles and be condescending the whole rest of the day so I won't use them. When LeBron made his announcement I was hurt and mad and everything everyone else was who lives in northeast Ohio. But as the months have gone on I have found that I get a strange kind of enjoyment out of being so angry. There is a lot of pride mixed in with this kind of feeling. It may be all pride. I just know it is not spiritually healthy and it shows a part of my heart that is not good. I remember reading a book by Frederick Buechner where he defines anger. This is what he says, "Of the seven deadly sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come, to savor to the last toothsome morsel both the pain you are given and the pain you are giving back- in many ways it is a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself. The skeleton at the feast is you." (Wishful Thinking- A Theological ABC) So, I've decided to let the LeBron thing go. I am tired of chewing on it and on myself. If you have been nursing a grudge against anyone then this is for you. Remember all you have been forgiven and then ask the King who forgave you so much to give you one more gift. The ability to forgive.
Friday, October 29, 2010
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With me, it is our President. He showed up at my door last night during trick-or-treat. Instead of laughing, I felt this ugly thing rise up in me. This is a tough one. Yuck.
I used to have that same feeling regarding our former president. It was tough. But then someone suggested I re-read Rom 13:1-7
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. NKJV
Then I read these words:
"We can see that according to the bible, God has established multiple systems of authority in the world ("For there is no authority except from God"). All, persons, regardless of religious affiliation are expected to submit to government ("Let every soul be subject"). This is because government, although established by God is not a spiritual institution, but a civil one.
The purpose of government is not to establish religion or to pursue spiritual outcomes. It is the job of government to maintain the inalienable right of freedom by opposing those forces of evil both within and outside of the state which conspire to eliminate freedom ("But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain"). The government establishes equal justice for all and executes punishment upon the enemies of freedom and justice, without respect of persons. Therefore the government cannot practice evil in the form of injustice, oppression or crime in the performance of its duties without ceasing to perform its function." This helped me greatly.
I have been struggling to forgive my ex, who cheated on me and destroyed a marriage of over 20 years. Yes, it was eating me inside AND out. People could see it. No one condemned me for my feelings, but a few nudged me to do some readings on forgiveness. Betrayal is hard to stomach. But I never had to carry my own cross to my own crucifiction. That puts it all in perspective.
Turning your anger to prayer not only gets your focus where it should be but then it is no longer your problem left in God's hands. I would be praying for not only LeBron but his girlfriend and his children he left behind when he left for Miami.
Agree anonymous. That puts it in proper prospective. I would say their loss is greater than the Cleveland fans loss.
LeBron just gave $500,000 worth of computers to Akron city schools. His "You've Been Gifted" initiative.
Thank you for helping us see we all need to let things go and pray for people like LeBron, for his salvation.
I was just thinking about this topic a few weeks ago. I had been "chewing" over a situation that sparked my anger! I had excused it by saying that it was because the person at which my anger was directed had been inconsiderate of over 100 people (which is true), but what I realized was even more true, was that I was angry because this person had wounded my pride.
In a book I read recently, there is a paragraph I absolutely love! It says;
"Let's face it. Dead people are really hard to embarrass and impossible to scare. They have to live from another realm because they no longer exist in the present one. They do not have any opinions, and they are absolutely unoffendable... You can step on their toes and it does not bother them one bit... And they have no concern for their reputation. Personal dignity means nothing to them." ("Love has a Face" by Michele Perry).
I love this because we are supposed to die to self. If we really did that, wouldn't our pride not be an issue at all?
Really good discussion here. you guys took this to a whole different level. thanks.
Thank you for citing the passage about anger, it is just what I needed to read tonight. And the story about your grandson in the newer post is delightful. I have the joy of babysitting the kids next door (and the joy of coming home when I'm done!). The most fun part is the youngest one, a girl the same age as your grandson! I love how she lives totally in the moment. And how she savors ordinary moments, like saying "hi" and "bye". And how she always says "tank oh" (thank you). Her joy is an inspiration to me.
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