Madness

I was traveling last week and with the travel and intense stress-filled meetings it is always exhausting, especially when two or three cities are visited in as many days. Towards the end of the trip I was particularly tired one night so I went to bed early, only to be awakened by the person in the room next to me at 2:15AM. This person had their television blaring and it remained that way until a little after 4:00 AM. I probably should have called the hotel manager or banged on the wall or something, but instead I just laid there and endured.

Finally I drifted back to sleep only to be rudely awakened by my wake-up call at 6:00AM. Groggily I lifted the telephone receiver and immediately dropped it again. I was dead tired and felt that I had not even closed my eyes. I am a very light sleeper under normal conditions in my own bed, and getting rest in a motel is never easy, much less after enduring having to listen to someone’s TV with the volume turned up in the wee hours.

As I got ready for the day, I was still hopping mad about the inconsiderate person next to me and as I vigorously brushed my teeth and got ready to go I was fuming. I grabbed my briefcase and started to depart. Suddenly I had an idea. I walked over to my clock radio and turned it on. I then found a Spanish speaking station and turned the volume up as loud as it would go. (Man oh man Spanish speaking announcers talk fast and excitedly!) Finally I shoved the nightstand as close to the wall as possible and placed the radio whereby it was touching the wall. As I exited my room with the radio blaring, the door slammed rather loudly. Hmmm. I swiped my room key and opened my door widely again and let er go again, Ker-Blam! It slammed again. Swipe Ker-Blam! Swipe Ker Blam! Swipe Ker Blam! Swipe Ker-Blam! Five times the door slammed and then I headed down the hall with a derisive smile on my face whistling to a Spanish tune that was clear as a bell even to my nearly-deaf ears.

My son and I finished our first meeting at 10:00 so we decided to go back to the motel because our next meeting was not until 1:30. When I got back the radio had been turned off but my room was not made up which indicated to me that someone had gone in the room and turned it off. Ha Ha Ha

What would Jesus have done? I can assure you that He would not have done what I did. As Christians we should model our lives after Jesus. We are to emulate Him in every way, but it is awfully hard sometimes is it not? It is actually quite natural to try and get even with anyone who messes with us, but the Bible tells us not to do it over and over again. Many secular people quote the verse in the Bible that refers to: “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”; however right below that verse it tells us not to do it and instead turn the other cheek.

To be honest I did say to myself, (for a very brief moment), that I should not do what I did, but my fleshly urge for vengeance prevailed and I did it anyway. I knew it was wrong, but deliberately sinned. Further my mind tells me that I should be remorseful, but I am struggling with it even now. I think this person got what they deserved. It just goes to show how far removed my fleshly thinking is from a holy and righteous God who tells us to turn the other cheek. This is just another example of how fortunate we are to have Jesus Christ as our Savior. He died for this sin and all of the others that I have committed. Had He not done so, I can assure you that I for one would “bust Hell wide open” upon my demise. Jesus is perfect and holy and so is our Father in heaven. God is the personification of love in a pure and righteous form and no human being no matter how hard they try can ever attain that purity, save through the precious blood of Jesus Christ. It is the reason that He did what He had to do. Think about it.

Matt. 5:43
You have heard that it was said, “Love
your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I
tell you: Love your enemies and pray for
those who persecute you, that you may be
sons of your Father in heaven