July 9 2018 – Click here to listen
I got really steamed at one of my friends yesterday. I went fishing and caught a boatload of Mahi Mahi, (dolphin fish), and cleaned them and fixed some for our family and then called a few of my friends to see if they wanted some fresh fish. Living on the ocean gives me ample opportunity to catch and eat fresh fish, so I all but refuse to freeze it. Several friends came over and picked up their fish, but one asked if he could come at 4:00 P.M. or thereabouts yesterday afternoon. I was scheduled to go to church that afternoon. We have one service on Sunday afternoon beginning at 5:00. I like this service because it often rains where I live in the afternoon and is almost always sunny during the morning and early afternoon and it gives me time to do things outdoors and attend church while we have our afternoon showers. So, I thought it would be no problem to meet him at 4:00 and give him some fish and still make the evening service and I told him to come on.
I waited and waited and waited but my friend never showed, nor did he call. In fact, I waited so long that I ended up not going to church due to waiting too long. Gr-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r!
I’ve always prided myself in being punctual. In fact, I’m invariably early, sometimes embarrassingly so. To me it is just rude and inconsiderate to be late. To not show or call is incomprehensible to me. In this case where I caught the fish, cleaned them, sealed them, and iced them down it added insult to injury for this guy not to honor his word by showing up or call and say he couldn’t. As a CEO I fired more than one employee for habitually showing up late. I would warn them by telling them, “I expect you to either do what you say you will do, or call and tell me you can’t, or will not, but don’t tell me you will do something and just not do it.” It is a simple rule that’s easy to follow, but I’m amazed at how many people don’t abide by it.
So, what to do?
- I can tell him he is a jerk
- I can stop offering him fish or anything else – EVER!
- I can forget about it
Lately whenever my wife gets mad about something I tell her to calm down and BREATHE – Then I put the tip of my thumbs and tip of my forefingers together striking a yoga pose and in a chant-like manner say Un-n-n-n-n-n-n-n . . .
It seems to work.
I cannot fire my friend. I’m determined to remain calm, cool, and collected. I’m not going to confront him about what he did either. It is a safe bet that I’m never going to miss church again waiting for him or anyone to pick up fish, however, I would not hesitate to give him fresh fish again. I’m simply going to forget about it as best I can.
Isn’t it interesting how our innate sinful impulse is to go for burning bridges, but as we mature we learn that burned bridges are useless and lead nowhere.
God’s way is to forgive; not destroy friendships.
Altogether now: Un-n-n-n-n-n-n-n!
Eph. 4:32
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.