Still Amazed...by people

Yesterday I found myself sitting in the F1 terminal of the Chicago O'Hare International Airport impatiently awaiting my twice delayed flight. I could see the tension permeating from the other passengers around me. Each person engrossed in their own reasoning as to why "they" were being tortured and forced to wait by the airline. God's words began to flow through my mind and my spirit began to quiet down and I simply waited and watched and flipped through the pages of my magazine figuring that when it was time to leave, we would go. I noticed however, that no one else seemed to experience the calm that I was now experiencing and I wondered if they didn't hear God's voice as well. My attention was abruptly drawn to an individual that was using eloquent language that I haven't had the pleasure of hearing since my time in the service. He was so open and loud with his opinions of the airline and how they were ruining his night. I tried to give him on of my mother's strong looks hoping that he would stop his abuse of the language and realize that little children and women were near by. I had no such luck. It was his world and we were only adding to his discomfort.

I was shocked that he would be so openly rude and ill-mannered, which brings me to my point. I am amazed that I am still amazed by people and their behavior. I know that I am not the only one to find myself in such situations. But the question has to follow, why. Why am I amazed with behavior that I have undoubtedly seen before and will see again in someone else? Part of the reason is that sometimes, I like to forget how bad and corrupt humans are and can be. Another part of the reason is that I want to believe that everyone wants to let their goodness shine through. No where is that found in Scripture though. The Bible does not tell us that every man wants to be good. The Bible tells us that all have fallen short and will continue to fall short unless there is a spiritual rebirth.

So holding fast to the truths of God enabled me to achieve peace when I started to get anxious or irritated. Those truths also enable me to see that we are fallen creatures completely and that the only way to stand is to stand through/by/for Him. I was amazed because I needed to and will in the future need to be reminded of that.