9/30/23
Today is Saturday, the day after returning from a weeklong trip with family. I was in the process of loading up my kayak in the golf cart to go on a nice, leisurely, peaceful paddle this morning when a passerby brusquely and rather loudly questioned why our American flag was hanging upside down in our front window. It was just before 8 a.m. and his abruptness rather startled me.
“It signals our country’s in distress,” I answered, which really triggered him into launching a verbally abusive attack on my peaceful protest. I was still recovering from his initial salutation, so I didn’t offer up a retort. Anymore, I don’t try to change people’s minds or see my point of view. People are angry enough as it is. I just wanted to go kayaking.
As I finished putting all my stuff in the golf cart, I pondered on whether or not to say anything as I rode by him on the way to the boat launch. I couldn’t avoid him. It struck me that this transient RVer was going to be my neighbor for an unknown number of days, and that how I treated him could make or break whatever relationship we are destined to have while he is here. I had a choice: I could either speak to him or just ride past him without saying a word. I decided to say something.
Even if he wasn’t walking his pup I would’ve driven by slowly, and as I did I said that I hoped he’d have a blessed day. I’m trying to say that more instead of the usual “Have a great day.” I’ve noticed that some people actually perk up when they hear it; perhaps their spirit is answering the call. At any rate, that’s what I said to the grouch, and to my surprise, he surily grumbled, “You have a blessed day, too.” I didn’t care if he meant it when I said, “Thank you!” I did.
As I drove off, I felt good that I had made the choice to speak civilly to him. I truly understood in that moment what Jesus meant when He said, “For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?” I noticed that my response changed the way I thought about this guy. At first, I was agitated and thought the guy was a real jerk. But afterwards I felt a kind of peace in taking the high road. What could have clouded my entire day turned out to be a lesson in extending grace to others. That was my reward, and that’s something to be grateful for!
