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RIGHTEOUSNESS
B R O . D A V E M I L L E R ,
M u s i c M i n i s t e r
Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to
be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with
your Father who is in heaven. - Matthew 6:1
One recent Saturday I was able to scratch one item off my
Bucket List (You know, that list of things you wish to experience
before you kick the bucket.). I have been par ty to a threateniing confrontation over a parking space in the Wal-Mar t parking lot. I do not recommend the experience to anyone.
I had driven up behind a car that was backing out of a parking space next to the disabled parking spaces. I honestly had not seen another car that was headed in the opposite direction and apparently had been waiting on the car to leave so it could back into the space. I parked and got out and was met by a young man who was irate as he repeatedlly asked me if I had not seen him. I assured him repeatedly that I had
not obser ved him. He seemed unconvinced. When I pointed out to him that his car was in the other lane, heading in the opposite direction, he took further umbrage. I remained calm and steadfast in my resolve that I had done nothing wrong. And he seemingly became even more incensed that I not only professed not to have seen him but was apparently indifferent to the problem I had created for him. He also seemed to be obliviious to the fact that I was three times his age and twice his size (even though much slower afoot, I’m sure, had a race or chase ensued).
In my calmness of that moment, I found myself contemplating how strange it was that this young man had the audacity to be so confrontational, as if he thought it might change what had happened. I found it even stranger when he stuck his finger on my nose in a threatening way. I don’t remember what he said, I guess because I was
thinking to myself, “Why you young whelp. Where do you get off beiing so uppity?” I was finally beginning to feel a little blood boil myself, just as he turned at his companion’s urging and briskly returned to his car and hurriedly drove off. I headed into the store in a still somewha incredulous state of mind. When a lady at the door looked at me somewhat quizically, I ran my hand across my nose and found that I was bleeding profusely from two places where his fingernail had pierced the skin on my nose. It took better than 10 minutes for the bleeding to stop .
I stood in the bathroom at Wal-Mar t, struggling to stem the blood flow and reviewed what had just happened. It was neither pretty nor beneficial. Somehow, I had missed what might have been a real witnessing opportunity. Was I right to retain possession of the parking space? Probably, at least if I remained true to my posture as a
summa cum laude graduate of the school of “I-may-not-always- be-right-but I’m-never-wrong.” But what might have happened if, instead, I had apologized and offered the space to him? I’m not really sure. It might have reinforced in his mind the notion that he can achieve what he wishes through a suitably threatening course of conduct. Or, it just might have opened the door to a beneficial conversation from which he might have learned about Jesus’ love.
This may be one of those instances in which hindsight is not 20-20, and we’ll never really know. But I do know that when all was said and done, I was left bleeding in Wal-Mar t bathroom and he was speeding off in his car, still angry, no doubt, and still possessed of a mindset and attitude that will ver y likely bring harm to someone else.
It seems, on reflection, that in his being right and in my not being wrong, there ended up being resulting harm
for each of us.
(Perhaps you can teach an old dog new tricks after all.)
Blessings,
Brother Dave
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