What did she just say?

I arrived at a local hospital yesterday for lunch with someone, and because it is a busy hospital, finding a parking spot was going to be challenging. I waited for car to leave for a while, but as I was waiting, I saw a front row spot open up so I sped over a couple rows and snatched it up.

As I prepared to exit the vehicle with my Arby's feast in hand, I looked in my side mirror as another car that was circling for a spot drove by. I don't know why I glanced at this moment, but in doing so, I witnessed the other driver's reaction to me getting the spot she had been searching for. Since I am an above average lip reader, I was immediately able to pick up on the word she used to describe me. Obviously I can't repeat this word, but it's safe to say that it's not one that any of us would use around our mother. And, since we were in a hospital parking lot, it should be noted that the word is not used by gynecologists during examinations.

Oddly enough, after uttering this word and driving to the next row, this woman found a spot. I was a few hundred feet ahead of her but wondered if I should slow down and ask her if she really thought that was an accurate description of a person who got the parking spot she wanted and whom she did not know at all. But since I had hot Arby's roast beefs in my hand (of which a friend was waiting on) and I didn't want to risk being beat up by a woman twice my age, I decided to move on to my lunch.

But the incident stayed with me. And did so for a couple of reasons. I was reminded that the words in James 3 - "Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way." The tongue is indeed a powerful tool that sometimes becomes a hurtful weapon if we're not careful. This woman didn't see that I read her lips and I doubt she was frustrated enough to say that word to my face. It could be that her day was going poorly or that the stress of her hospital visit got the best of her. I hope that it was just a moment of weakness - we all have them.

This parking lot encounter also reminded me to say "what if" before I get frustrated and lash out at other people in the privacy of my car or elsewhere. It's easy to do. But if I consider the feelings of that person and their reaction to my words if they heard it, then the times I am tempted to be loose with my words - no matter how justified I think I am in calling someone stupid or whatever - I will reconsider and keep my mouth shut. Or better yet, use my words to uplift, encourage or compliment someone. I know, easier said than done. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't try. It's either that or I start parking really far away in spots that no one wants, which is a more improbable solution.

The Circle of Life

When I hear of the phrase "circle of life," I usually think of the cheesy Elton John song in the movie The Lion King. But recently that phrase is taking on a new meaning.

About a month ago my wife asked my son Jackson what kind of birthday party he wanted, and he quickly answered, "Star Wars!" This came after I told him he couldn't watch Star Wars until his 4th birthday. As a boy (and an adult) I was a huge Star Wars fan so I found it interesting that my son was also becoming enamored by the franchise. Even more, I realized that after looking through some old photos that my 4th birthday (in 1979) was also a Star Wars party. Wow. Now that's the "circle of life."

I will really enjoy the party tomorrow. It will be a great celebration for my son (one that he has been counting down for a while), and it will be a bit nostalgic as well. I will love taking a picture of my son in his Star Wars shirt and Jayhawks hat. He's definitely taking after his Dad in many things. Thinking about it tonight, however, has made me hope that my love for Star Wars and Jayhawks are not the only loves I pass down to my son.

In fact, I hope tomorrow is a joy and a reminder that more than my interests and hobbies, I want to pass down my love for Christ. I know that it's my responsibility to demonstrate the love of Christ in a very real and consistent way so that my son will want to know more about Him. Sure, I will continue to read Jackson the Bible, take him to church and pray with him. But I know that my son must witness my love and devotion to Christ in order for him to really want to experience a relationship with Jesus. I can't make him love Christ or convince him with eloquent speech. It's up to me to show him what matters most. So, let the parties continue and the Jayhawks keep winning, and more than anything, may Christ live through me.