My Thoughts: when the mood strikes.

A CARNAL ENCOUNTER

I was at a prayer meeting, praying and walking around the church waving a beautiful flag (greens, blues, gold trim---leaves).  A lady moved out of "the circle" and came sat in a chair to the right about three aisles back. 

She confronted me harshly----saying:  Please don't wave that thing over me; it's distracting.  It's not of God.  What are you even praying?  Not expecting to be lambasted at a prayer meeting---unbelievable, shaken, disturbed to the core---I responded, I do not receive that, attempting to let it go, praying and staying as far away from her as possible.

Later she came toward me with arms open wide.  I shook my head, No.  Do not come near me and do not speak to me.

She later gave a half-baked apology via e-mail.  Because her apology merely diminished her misconduct, I told her it's best she not speak to me for awhile.

My first mistake when the event happened:  I was offended.

Second mistake:  I told another lady (albeit one of the elders) what had happened.

Third:  That night, I barely slept, and I carried this for the next three or four days. 

What helped me move forward:

         (1) Realizing my response was more important than the incident (from God's point of view).

         (2) Learning about echos of trauma from our past --- this lady obviously has big negative echos.

         (3) Realizing that from this particular incident two of us were hurt AND affected.  I was planning to take a few piano lessons from her; after the attack, all I wanted was to keep a safe distance.

         (4) I asked God what turning the other cheek would look like in this instance.

         (5) He showed me turning the other cheek would be doing the opposite of my inclinations---thus, turning a curse into a blessing and accomplishing the opposite of the enemy's intention (also an echo of my pastor's words).

         (6) Since then, I've seen this offending lady at a few meetings; and it's been okay---no traumatic after shocks.  I haven't spoken to her, but I am no longer feeling defensive.  Instead, I remember the Lord's Words:  Bless those that persecute you; do good to them that despitefully use you... Pray for them, etc..  -Matthew 5:43-47

Doing the opposite of what we are inclined to do in this type of situation is what turns this world upside down for Christ... See Acts 17.