
Wisdom Without Words
An Opinion without Words?
Offering an opinion without words – well, how do I do that? Telling you what I think about the times through which we live words is tough enough!
This morning, my friends at Oak Cliff Bible Church reminded me of a man who always offered his opinion of the harsh practice of racism and segregation, most often eloquently and without words. They repeated Dr. Martin Luther King’s commentary:
“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”
Such love may not be a burden – but it’s not easy to do on my own. I can’t out-argue the wisdom of this age, but I can serve my fellow travelers. And everybody needs a cup of cold water on this crazy wonderful journey called life, right?
My cup today will be my attitude. Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference, observed the late Winston Churchill.
Change What I Can
God willing I will change my attitude today from aggravation, apprehension, and disappointment to calm, confidence and acceptance. This may not be a once for all change, especially if I don’t stay off social media and the news! (Psalm 131)
With a changed attitude,though, maybe I will have something worth sharing, and accepting that is not my opinion. I hope to share what I need: a little patience, kindness, and gentleness; a dollop of respect and mercy, topped off with a heaping of usefulness.
Being useful, and not just busy, begins with doing what Elisabeth Elliott often counseled – do the next thing!
I think I’ll do the dishes and polish my attitude to reflect gratitude – for dishes to wash, hot water; a home; freedom, and men like Dr. King and like the women I am reading about in Hidden Figures; their lives show how love is lived out in circumstances I am ashamed to confess seemed perfectly normal for too long in my lifetime!
I remember having this verse as one of several “inside the kitchen cabinet” verses in our home in Maryland. When the boys or something else in life pushed my buttons, I’d open the cabinet, read the verse, and get a better grip on God’s perspective! One of the Bible’s most practical verses!
Your showing me this verse, Flo, was a gentle companion to what my father used to say: It’s better to keep your mouth shut and have people think you are fool, then open it and remove all doubt!
These are interesting times, in which we live, are they not?
xoxoxox