Today is the day that I'm getting back into exercise. I sprained my ankle last week and although I've been swimming and rode the stationary bike, today was the day that I decided to go for a 1 hour walk.
Near the end of my walk today I got yelled at. No, SCREAMED at would be a better choice of words. I was about to cross over across the street and a car was whipping around a circle to the left of me. I hesitated as he did because I thought he was going to go around the circle and turn back around. I didn't know that he intended to turn left, right in front of me. Still, I hesitated to see where the car went.
I was staring to the left to see what the car would do with one foot on the street. The car whizzed by and slowed down just enough for me to hear the expletives coming out of his mouth about me using the sidewalk. He said, "Jesus &^% / Christ, why don't you use the crosswalk, I'll fun your &*%$# over!"
Now I can pretty much guarantee that this guy wasn't praying to Jesus Christ at that moment. He was using the Lord's name in vain. And an interesting thing happened to me? for the first time!!!
I felt sorry for him!!! I actually felt sorry for this young guy who was driving to fast, screaming obscenities out the car window and being basically a jerk to me. I also know because I have some years on me now, that that poor guy will "get his". He's either got a lot of stress in his life right now and doesn't know how to manage it, or he'll be dealing with a lot in the future. These are the things that I actually thought about!!!
The reason that I'm so shocked at my own reaction is that previously, if anyone would get in my face about anything, it would take me a bit of time, but I'd get it together and then I'd LET THEM HAVE IT. I'd just tell them off or somehow get back at them with every bit of certainty that they had displayed earlier.
Once in Charlotte, I had a neighbor who I complained to at 1am that their music was on too loud. They never responded to my knocking so I rang the doorbell. The next morning, the wife reamed my husband out so bad that when he came in, he was calling her crazy! I went over to try to smooth things out and she screamed and yelled and cussed at me just as much. I cowardly walked away but got my revenge. Not only did I tell everyone what bad neighbors they were, I got the music to stop by going to the board of the neighborhood and forcing them to stop the constant pounding every night.
That ruined the relationship for the first 2 years that we lived there. I never wanted to be friends with someone with such a violent temper.
But what was really going on for her? Was she in a bad place in her life? Was there a time where someone else had pressured her or her family to do something?
I never chose to look at those things. I chose to ignore her and treat her like she didn't exist. I can tell you from experience, it is not a good way to live! There are many awkward moments that occur, and it'd just be easier to forgive and forget.
She was actually the one who initiated the conversation again. One day she just waved and said "Hi, how are you?" I responded somewhat pleasantly and from then on, we waved whenever we saw one another.
But I can't tell you that I liked her. No, I still felt like she was an awful woman who didn't want to be a good neighbor.
When I compare my two reactions, I felt so much more peace just forgiving the guy and going on with things. I didn't react at all to him but I know that his day is probably ruined. Holding a grudge is HARD. You have to avoid the person so you don't have to be in an awkward position. You have to look the other way when they approach you to act like you don't see them and then having to totally ignore a person takes so much creative work and effort!
Forgiveness is a whole lot easier! All you have to do is forgive the person and realize that they're not at their best at that moment. Hopefully, they'll regret their actions and make amends but even if you don't, you'll feel better just by forgiving them right away. When you don't forgive someone, your emotions become bitter, and bitterness eats away at your insides. Literally. It can cause stress and even sickness.
I can just imagine that today, the angels that were watching today, recorded something good about me. Perhaps they all nudged each other, smiled and said.. "yah, NOW she's getting it! Now she understands what it takes to become mature".
I know in my heart that I felt better this time about the lousy experience. I know that God saw me honestly feel sorry for that young guy. And I know that it made God happy.
Now, if he can JUST work on making that GUY happy!
Contact information: mary@marygardner.com WEB: www.marygardner.com
Mary Gardner is an Executive Communications Consultant and Coach. She works with, coaches and trains individuals, sales teams, executives, and celebrities. She enjoys seeing the best come out in people and has fun in the process. Mary is married to Sway and is mommy to Jeremy 5 and lives in Orlando, FL.
Water of Enlightenment, Angel of Peace and Harmony for Nature... Read More
The fundamental aim of spiritual study is to get facts... Read More
The term spirituality is a confusing term. Usually, when one... Read More
In the early 90's I had a spontaneous Kundalini Awakening... Read More
In one forum, one participant posted this query:I think quite... Read More
I am not enlightened, and yet,... Read More
... Read More
Everyday I am challenged to find the good in things:... Read More
There's a Native American belief that before we are born,... Read More
What is Enlightenment?What do we really mean when we talk... Read More
What does it mean to be comfortable in your own... Read More
One of my favorite movies is "The Green Mile". A... Read More
The Orisha are the Messengers of Oludumare, the God/dess of... Read More
Some may ask why in a disaster some people are... Read More
ADDICTION: - There are numerous obsessions and addictions which prevent... Read More
Would you like an exciting and wonder-full resolution for the... Read More
An analysis of Western man's guiding presuppositions, A Review of... Read More
In Corrogue I am finding it's a wonderful life.Let me... Read More
Spending 'Quiet Time' with the LordFrom the beginning of my... Read More
There was a time in my life when I seriously... Read More
If any man be in Christ, he is a new... Read More
Spirit DancerThe spirit dancer is the card of creative expression.... Read More
Matthew 1:1-17The Genealogy of Jesus Christ1 The book of the... Read More
Once you become saved and born again, the Bible tells... Read More
Before the movie "Finding Nemo", came out Steve Jobs the... Read More
There is so much going on in the world around... Read More
Prayer from a child's simple bedtime prayer, to the prayers... Read More
It happens to us all from time to time, especially... Read More
I once read a story about a Catholic priest who... Read More
Come on now!? Really? This is going too far, you... Read More
As we walk along our paths in life, we will... Read More
Many may wonder what is God's will, or how do... Read More
Angels, those divine beings of love and light, are here... Read More
"Quantum Physics is the science of gods? Newtonian Physics is... Read More
In a recent article entitled "Some Evidence of How We... Read More
Do you have a dream, but are waiting for "just... Read More
Whadda ya know?Seriously. With absolute certainty, what do you know?... Read More
Shamanism is an ancient form of mysticism. Although... Read More
I have been reading a lot lately about the concepts... Read More
No one, not even God can make us choose the... Read More
I heard recently on a Christian radio station somebody talking... Read More
An act of selflessness is the highest expression of selfishness... Read More
How many of us rush blindly through our days, fall... Read More
We are apart of all that is, our consciousness spring... Read More
There's a lot of talk in meditation circles about emptying... Read More
"There must be a higher love/Without it life is wasted... Read More
Everything was going wrong.The weight of the world had decided... Read More
"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and... Read More
Billy Graham once said, "Being a Christian is more than... Read More
Do you ever have one of those days when you... Read More
Ok, let's start with the amazing story of Robbie and... Read More
Spiritual healing of the sick in Christ has many Christians... Read More
Enlightenment, which is as varied as each individual's fingerprint, is... Read More
I have a confession.I used to have doubts about God's... Read More
I want to tell you a love story. It's actually... Read More
We'll begin with a question:What is a moral?I'd say it's... Read More
So, none of us arrived with an Owner's Manual, neatly... Read More
Surveys show that religion and spirituality play a central role... Read More
People engaged in kissing experience information and energy transfer, although... Read More
Liam says to Joe; "where is your God now, when... Read More
The myths of man have been with us throughout time.... Read More
Judgement; What does this mean? The encyclopedia definition is, "The... Read More
Self-actualization comes down to three basic premises: this is who... Read More
Picture this state of existence in your mind by closing... Read More
What power do we hold individually in the midst of... Read More
Life is full of ups and downs, trials, and tribulations.... Read More
Spirituality |