I’ve seen this on TV, in the movies, and on the news, but I’ve noticed more and more in my daily routine as I drive my kids to school, buy groceries, or go see my 7 year old play football. It doesn’t take much for most people to have an all-out meltdown, to go from sitting still and quiet to ranting, raving, cursing and threatening those around them, for insignificant things like taking a parking spot, failing to let them in the line of traffic, or for just looking at them (seriously, the other day I was staring off into space thinking about something random, and a guy in a truck thought I was looking at him - I was wearing sunglasses - and he challenged me to fist fight. I turned him down).
What’s behind all of this? When people crater and just go nuts, like some parents recently did at a little league football game I attended, what is the cause of such out-of-control behavior?
Well, there are many factors, to be sure. Immaturity. Stress. Family problems. But I really wonder if the reason why we all tend to blow up about such minor things is that we fail to realize the difference between what really matters and what is absolutely unimportant in the grand scheme of things. We lack an eternal perspective.
Would I get so angry when the cashier can’t get me the right amount of change if I remembered that in 100 years, nobody would ever know it? Would adults get so hyper-offended at their children’s sporting events if they realized they were setting an example that their kids will follow, then teach to their grandkids?
In the long run, what really matters is the life I live for Christ, how I treat other people, and the way I love my wife and raise my children. The gospel compels me to avoid the temptation to act as if the momentary crisis I am facing is the end-all issue in my life, and it calls me to remember who I am and WHOSE I am.
If we were focused on eternity and the things that have eternal significance, then our hot-heads would cool down a bit and we would be more careful and thoughtful about how we spend our energy and what we allow to raise our blood pressure.
Comments (4)
When I was a child and would get steamed up over trivialities, my mother would say: "The Queen in England doesn't even know about what's upsetting you!" It was an odd thing to say, I suppose, but it did put things in better perspective.
I agree with you. As a Christian living in this fallen world is difficult... I know I'm not suppose to think this but I think it would be easier to live like any other person in the world but God has been faithful and loving unconditionally. There has been many moments when my temperment would go through the roof and I would regret being angry for nothing. For example, I was driving in the first lane when a car decided to cut in sudden without signaling... I was angry and outburst came as I honked my horn. As I raced my car onto the car that cut me, I saw an elderly man nervously driving with wife. I felt horrible after that...
It seems that I have much to learn and much to soak up in His words.
Thank you for your entry. God bless.
That was you?
Sorry. Just joking.
You're right. We see parents getting into fights in front of a soccer field filled with children. It's appalling. It all does boil down to one thing in general, erroneous beliefs. People of all religions and non religions alike only demonstrate their failure to truly understand that which they think they believe in by acting in ways that hurt this creation. This world is actually Divine. It's people who make it otherwise by not growing into the knowledge of Divinity. God said, "Man, know thyself." Apparently all too many people leave that at the door as they leave leave their houses of worship. It doesn't work that way. This entire world is a house of worship and the Holy Land is any place a man or woman who truly understands this places their two feet.
Excellent reminder. We should always be living our daily lives in view of eternity - I like to try of thinking living my life "coram deo" - in the face of God.