An old friend dropped in yesterday – literally!
Mark is a paraglider and yesterday afternoon, as Ana and I were just getting back from a drive up into the mountains to celebrate our 38th anniversary, he landed in our backyard.
Having paragliders land in our field is a pretty common occurrence, since they often launch off the mountain above our house, but it’d been a while since we’d seen Mark, so it was great to catch up.
As Mark folded up his paraglider we chatted about family, friends, work, politics, and even God. Later, when I drove him down to meet the other paragliders he’d launched with, our conversation continued, touching on recent events in the news and our reactions to them.
The crazy thing is, Mark and I agree on hardly anything. Whether it’s politics, religion, or something as simple as what to eat for dinner, Mark and I are usually on different sides of the issue. In spite of that, we get along great! Why? As Aretha Franklin sang, it’s a little thing called R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
A little respect goes a long way. I may not agree with Mark’s opinion very often, but I respect his right to have that opinion. At the same time he respects me for the stands I take. And just because we don’t always agree, doesn’t mean we can’t get along and enjoy each other’s company.
1 Peter 2:17 tells us to “Respect everyone.” In this world, where everyone seems to be taking things to extremes and where there’s more yelling than listening going on, Christians need to follow this advice more often. Even when it comes to sharing our faith Peter tells us to “do this in a gentle and respectful way.” (verse 16).
Proverbs 15:1 warns, “A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.” This week when you come across someone you disagree with (and you will), take a deep breath, tone down the rhetoric, and show a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T. You’ll be amazed what a difference it’ll make in both your attitudes.
Showing each other a little respect may not change the world, but it sure could brighten your little corner of it.
God bless and have a wonderful week!