Sometimes we find God's simple truths in life in places we least expect. Today I read the comics in our Sunday newspaper and the Peanuts cartoon really stuck out to me. To be totally honest with you, I sat here today wondering what God would speak to me and where I would find it. I felt in my spirit that the answer would come through the comics in the paper and so I dug it out of the recycling and read through it. That's when I saw what Charles Schultz wrote in the Peanuts comic printed today.
Hopefully you are able to see the copy of it I scanned here. If not, dig out your paper from today and look at it yourself.
Like I said, sometimes God's truths are simple and are right in front of us. Recently I made a boo boo at work. While trying to help someone else I was led by someone in a higher position than me to seek the advice of another person. What I didn't realize at the time was that this other person was the CFO of the entire company and reported only to the CEO - the top man in our firm. Company policy prevents me from sharing where I work in this blog, but know that it is a very large, national company that hundreds, if not thousands, work for. Can you see how it might have been out of line for me to send an email to this CFO now? It was a nice email just asking for guidance, but nonetheless I learned it was a mistake on my part. It's good to respect the authorities in our lives. I didn't know who this person was at the time, but as soon as I realized his position in the company I made sure to let my boss's boss and her boss know what had happened. I've been around the block enough to know my email probably was not well received even despite my intentions to help.
In comes the truth God is sharing with us today. Even though I made a point to recognize the error, I was still later told not to do it again. I didn't hear it just once, but a few times. Even though I knew the mistake and tried my best to remedy the situation, I still had to listen to my superiors tell me the mistake I'd already told them about. It got to the point of ridiculous and I was starting to get really crabby about it.
I had the opportunity to lash back with unkind words, but instead was reminded of what the Bible says in Proverbs 15:1, "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." I chose to simply acknowledge my mistake and agree it wouldn't happen again. I knew all this from the moment I realized who I sent my email for help to, but in order to follow our Lord's words I chose to respond with a soft answer. Nothing else has been said about the boo boo and I'm sure it is all in the past now. But, what would have happened if I'd made a big stink about it or about how I felt all of this attention was unfair?
I think it's funny that Charles Schultz also captured this truth of God in his comic strip, but am humbled to realize His truths can be found all around us if we are just open to His Spirit and look and listen.
Father, as we face tough situations or people today, let us follow your example and do our best to respond with a soft answer and not in a selfish way that stirs up anger. Help us also to be open to take the time to listen to You and follow Your leading.
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