Snake in the Pocket

The ongoing, bizarre saga that is happening with the Diocese of South Carolina and the National Church reminds me of an Eastern NC parable.
On a cool autumn day a little boy is walking down a path and comes upon a snake shivering in the shade.
"Would you please pick me up and warm me in your pocket?" says the snake
"If I do that, you will bite me!" says the boy
"No, no, I promise that I would never do that! Please just carry me a while and leave me in the sun. I promise that I will not bite you!"
"You promise?"
"Absolutely!"
So the boy picks up the snake, puts him in his pocket and walks down the path.
When he comes to the sunny spot, he puts his hand in his pocket, and the snake bites him.
"You promised that you would not bite me!" the boy cries.
"But I'm a snake."

Mea Culpa: How a light hearted extrovert fell into cynicism and compassionless living

Mea Culpa: How a light hearted extrovert fell into cynicism and compassionless living

A pastor friend posted a political joke on Facebook yesterday that was unkind and unchristian, but that wasn’t my initial response. In fact, I laughed and thoughtlessly posted it myself.

            Going on with my day, I became somewhat surprised when a few friends posted rebukes on my page, but many more responding with “like” and defending our right to offend with the truth.

            My original, defensive thoughts were that those offended were a little more to my left and were missing the humor, but they were people I loved and respected, so I began to wrestle with the whole issue.

            Then the Lord got right in my face, when a reprimand came from one of my key leaders (a friend, brother and a straight up guy) – “There was no healing grace in your post.”

With my intellectual & spiritual pride wounded, I deleted the post, as quickly as I could get to my computer and wrote personal apologies to those who had admonished me.

            When I shared the whole incident with my beloved, the Lord’s reproof grew even stronger. “But you’re the one that so committed to speaking blessing into people’s live.”

She was right. They were all right. What had just happened here? How could I have become so insensitive, humor at the expense of suffering? I could see Ann Coulter making the statement or even G.K. Chesterton, but the Lord whispered clearly in my heart, “Could you see me saying it?”

With love, not condemnation, our Father was clearly reminding me that, growing weary and unfocused in the fray, I had failed to guard my heart, mind and words from the prevailing cynicism of our day, within and without the Body of Christ. He also exposed the growing lack of compassion that had been emerging in my heart towards those that were not like me.

So for those who had the candor and gumption to chastise me, thank you. For those who laughed with me and defended my carelessness, I pray we rediscover the balance of truth and grace, renewing ourselves to being gracious and kind to any and all, even those with whom we politically and theologically differ.

And to all, would you pray for me, for one another and with each other that His healing grace would permeate our lives, cleansing deeply our broken places and releasing his love into the world.

“The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” – 1Peter 4:7-8

Mea Culpa: How a light hearted extrovert fell into cynicism and compassionless living

A pastor friend posted a political joke on Facebook yesterday that was unkind and unchristian, but that wasn’t my initial response. In fact, I laughed and thoughtlessly posted it myself.

            Going on with my day, I became somewhat surprised when a few friends posted rebukes on my page, but many more responding with “like” and defending our right to offend with the truth.

            My original, defensive thoughts were that those offended were a little more to my left and were missing the humor, but they were people I loved and respected, so I began to wrestle with the whole issue.

            Then the Lord got right in my face, when a reprimand came from one of my key leaders (a friend, brother and a straight up guy) – “There was no healing grace in your post.”

With my intellectual & spiritual pride wounded, I deleted the post, as quickly as I could get to my computer and wrote personal apologies to those who had admonished me.

            When I shared the whole incident with my beloved, the Lord’s reproof grew even stronger. “But you’re the one that so committed to speaking blessing into people’s live.”

She was right. They were all right. What had just happened here? How could I have become so insensitive, humor at the expense of suffering? I could see Ann Coulter making the statement or even G.K. Chesterton, but the Lord whispered clearly in my heart, “Could you see me saying it?”

With love, not condemnation, our Father was clearly reminding me that, growing weary and unfocused in the fray, I had failed to guard my heart, mind and words from the prevailing cynicism of our day, within and without the Body of Christ. He also exposed the growing lack of compassion that had been emerging in my heart towards those that were not like me.

So for those who had the candor and gumption to chastise me, thank you. For those who laughed with me and defended my carelessness, I pray we rediscover the balance of truth and grace, renewing ourselves to being gracious and kind to any and all, even those with whom we politically and theologically differ.

And to all, would you pray for me, for one another and with each other that His healing grace would permeate our lives, cleansing deeply our broken places and releasing his love into the world.

“The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” – 1Peter 4:7-8