Today was one of those days that I was hit in the face about how complacent I am. Before I tell you why, let me say, I'm pretty bold in a room full of like-minded folks, or here on my humble blog, where I can just delete 'you' if you get ugly and unruly. ;o)
Yesterday, I was reading about my friend Kelly and her episode at a restaurant where she confronted the culture. I had to laugh at her, although I was not one bit surprised by what she did. But I was also convicted because when it comes to be being bold, I am a wimp...a coward.
Today...we were sitting in the DMV waiting room, in a bad part of town. Only a few of us there. Lady #1, nice, trying to make conversation by complaining about the requirements of the office. Lady #2 comes in with 21 yo daughter, who had half of her DDD size chest hanging out of her shirt exposing part of her bra. They choose sit across from us. We smiled and said hello. Lady #1 to my left starts a conversation with them. For a good 20 minutes they complained about EVERYTHING they could think of. It was obvious they had the victim mentality.
A few of Lady #2's (mother of the partly naked girl) comments...and this was just a few:
*The schools are so bad, they ain't teachin my children nothing.
*I tell mine to go get a GED and start a trade, once they out, they ain't coming back.
*The cops think they is bad just cause they wear a uniform, all they want to do is put the kids in jail.
*It's crazy the rules they have to get a driver's license...my kids just gonna drive anyway...it don't matter.
*The government ain't doin nothing for the children, ain't no programs for the children.
*Everyone deserves a home, even single mothers deserve a home...we ain't got nothin here.
*The world ain't teachin our kids nothin no more. (oh yes, they are she just doesn't realize it)
Meanwhile Olivia was squeezing my arm so hard and her blood pressure was rising.
Lady #1 was the Amen corner and just kept adding fuel to the flames. The more they both talked, the more riled up they got!
Lady #2 starts in about the gas prices and the war, and how we should educate our children like the Chinese and Germans do. (Can you believe that?????)
Olivia was turning tomato red at this point and I had no feeling in my hand due to a lack of blood circulation.
THEN....Olivia finally pipes in...now I am turning red, and wondering if I am going to make it out of the building alive. She was kind and smiled while she began to question LADY #2, with questions that were loaded. They were questions that required more knowledge than you will receive on the evening news or Oprah. As soon as Olivia started quoting parts of the constitution, Lady #1 and Lady #2 settled right down and had little to say.
At that point Olivia had to leave the room for a few minutes to take care of something.
Lady #2 looked at me with BIG eyes, and said: "That's one smart girl, she makes you think, don't ever stop her from standing her ground...she shut me right down...uh huh...that be right!"
I breathed a BIG sigh of relief that I nor Olivia were going to be physically hurt. :o)
On the way home we were amazed by their 6 o'clock-liberal-media world view. Olivia said why should we conservative Christians be quiet? We need to be speaking up. We need to be asking them questions, make them think!
Yesterday, I was reading about my friend Kelly and her episode at a restaurant where she confronted the culture. I had to laugh at her, although I was not one bit surprised by what she did. But I was also convicted because when it comes to be being bold, I am a wimp...a coward.
Today...we were sitting in the DMV waiting room, in a bad part of town. Only a few of us there. Lady #1, nice, trying to make conversation by complaining about the requirements of the office. Lady #2 comes in with 21 yo daughter, who had half of her DDD size chest hanging out of her shirt exposing part of her bra. They choose sit across from us. We smiled and said hello. Lady #1 to my left starts a conversation with them. For a good 20 minutes they complained about EVERYTHING they could think of. It was obvious they had the victim mentality.
A few of Lady #2's (mother of the partly naked girl) comments...and this was just a few:
*The schools are so bad, they ain't teachin my children nothing.
*I tell mine to go get a GED and start a trade, once they out, they ain't coming back.
*The cops think they is bad just cause they wear a uniform, all they want to do is put the kids in jail.
*It's crazy the rules they have to get a driver's license...my kids just gonna drive anyway...it don't matter.
*The government ain't doin nothing for the children, ain't no programs for the children.
*Everyone deserves a home, even single mothers deserve a home...we ain't got nothin here.
*The world ain't teachin our kids nothin no more. (oh yes, they are she just doesn't realize it)
Meanwhile Olivia was squeezing my arm so hard and her blood pressure was rising.
Lady #1 was the Amen corner and just kept adding fuel to the flames. The more they both talked, the more riled up they got!
Lady #2 starts in about the gas prices and the war, and how we should educate our children like the Chinese and Germans do. (Can you believe that?????)
Olivia was turning tomato red at this point and I had no feeling in my hand due to a lack of blood circulation.
THEN....Olivia finally pipes in...now I am turning red, and wondering if I am going to make it out of the building alive. She was kind and smiled while she began to question LADY #2, with questions that were loaded. They were questions that required more knowledge than you will receive on the evening news or Oprah. As soon as Olivia started quoting parts of the constitution, Lady #1 and Lady #2 settled right down and had little to say.
At that point Olivia had to leave the room for a few minutes to take care of something.
Lady #2 looked at me with BIG eyes, and said: "That's one smart girl, she makes you think, don't ever stop her from standing her ground...she shut me right down...uh huh...that be right!"
I breathed a BIG sigh of relief that I nor Olivia were going to be physically hurt. :o)
On the way home we were amazed by their 6 o'clock-liberal-media world view. Olivia said why should we conservative Christians be quiet? We need to be speaking up. We need to be asking them questions, make them think!
I know she is right. We should be confronting the culture, making them think, sharing Truth! If the few liberals can have their voice heard so loudly, why can't we conservatives be even louder and start making a difference, even if it cost us our comfort. I wonder if I would have been brave enough to put myself on the Mayflower?
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12: 1-2
3 comments:
Good for you, Olivia!
Yes! Good for you Olivia.
Good going Jeff'swife for teaching your girls what they really need to know!
Hugs,
Christi
While I understand your frustration with the world, I am wondering what difference would it make if "we" caused the world to consider cultural things if they are of this world? Jesus didn't come to change the culture. He came to change hearts for eternity.
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