eDevo
A mid-week boost from Pastor Amber
Blessings or Curses?
Some of you have heard via facebook about the incident I had this weekend with an angry driver. The short story is that I pulled out onto Old Cutler and didn’t see a car coming in my blind spot. The person blared the horn all the way into the neighborhood where we stopped. He and his wife yelled at me for “my stupidity” that almost caused a wreck. I tried to apologize, but he wasn’t interested. I tried to change the subject to the crosses hanging from his rearview mirror; he wasn’t interested in talking about faith either. He drove off yelling and lifted his middle finger at me. All the while, my five year old, his teenager, and the kids across the street observed this tirade. As I have said since then, witnessing that anger and rage made more of an impression on me than merely having a “near miss” on a busy road.
But the next day, I had a completely opposite experience, a positive “Miami” moment. My kids and I were at the park and they wanted to watch a “pick-up” men’s soccer game. We sat on a bench and enjoyed the fun. To add to the pleasant atmosphere, a man sat nearby with his guitar practicing chords. Eventually, the boys were ready to move on with their scooters. But moving for boys means racing. Of course, the little one got knocked off his scooter and started crying blaming the other one. Crying and blaming broke the golden moment. But then the man on the guitar started singing, “Thank you, Lord, for this day…this beautiful day” His music immediately reminded me that it was a beautiful day and a gift from God- as are my kids.
His words & music felt like a blessing. In a subtle way, he brought God and God’s grace to the forefront of the moment. Unlike the man in the car whose angry words went into the world as a curse, pushing away any thought of God, grace, forgiveness, or thankfulness. It makes me think of Moses’ final words to the people:
“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, that you and your descendants might live! Choose to love the Lord your God and to obey him and commit yourself to him, for he is your life (Deuteronomy 30: 19-20 NLT).”
What choices do you have before you today, choices that may be pulling you in two different directions? How can you choose life & blessing? Many took the opportunity yesterday on Valentines to tell our loved ones words of blessing. What stranger or co-worker would benefit from a word of blessing today? You don’t have to be overt (like a giant red heart card), but how can you bring a word of thanksgiving or grace into the moment? Is there a way to gently name God in a tense or hurting moment? If you are able to choose life and blessing today, maybe others will witness your choice and be inspired to do the same. Glory be to God for His untold blessings!
Peace,
Pastor Amber
