At the supermarket, I wheeled my three articles, precariously balanced
on the front bar of my two-wheel, two-back-skids walker, into the last
check-out aisle signed LIMIT 12 ARTICLES.
The lady in front of me
had just put a few articles from her cart -- showing more-than-12, onto
the first edge of the moving counter top. Quickly stepping aside, she
motioned me into the space she made for me in front of herself.
The check-out clerk broke from her rhythm of keying-in the articles of
her current customer (ahead of the two of us) and smilingly plopped
another spacing-bar onto the counter, thus adding her go-ahead to my
hesitation.
The clerk-out clerk acted out her practical
graciousness, and the over-the-limit-lady showed penitence by holding
back her articles -- both with kindness. I smiled my appreciation.
I could have pointed at the overloaded cart; the clerk could have
pointed at the sign; the over-the-limit lady might have kept her feet
firmly grounded. All three of us might have stiffened our backs or
growled. Judgment, with wounded feelings, might have reigned.
Yet
surely, Proverbs 15:1a fit, "A soft answer turns away wrath ...." Yes,
even when words are unspoken.
I think we all learned something:
By acting (though imperfectly) in Jesus' way of love, we had evaded the
"harsh word (that) stirs up anger" (Proverbs15:1b).
Jesus, to the
extremity, taught us his way of love: At 1 Peter 2:23, we read that,
while Jesus hung on the cross, "When they hurled their insults at him,
he did not retaliate, when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead he
entrusted himself to him who judges justly." And more: "He himself bore
our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live
for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like
sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and
Overseer of your souls" (I Peter 2:24,25).
Prayer --Thank you,
our Savior, for revealing your way of supreme love, first by refusing to
retaliate, then by giving yourself, the just for the unjust -- for us.
Thank you for bringing us to you, our Overseer, and Shepherd of our
souls. We praise you for rising and assuring us that we will rise to be
with you for all eternity. Continue, we pray, to strengthen our faith to
entrust ourselves wholly to you; and guide us in sharing your way of
love. Amen.
Roland, Manitoba, Canada
