© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.
Years ago when I was the pastor of a small church, I attended the district conference of the denomination. Along with other pastors, I attended to district business and got acquainted with those whom I only saw at yearly meetings. The highlight of the conference was the sessions where a well-known speaker would bring a message of encouragement and instruction. This particular year the featured speaker was an author of a popular book on "worship."
I was interested in the message and trying to pay close attention. Gradually I became aware of a tapping noise. Assuming that it was the nervous habit of a fellow listener, I tried to ignore it. But as the speaker plodded on, the noise became an irritant and distracted me, and I thought, a few others. Finally the speaker concluded and the tapping as well. Surely the rudeness was over, I thought.
To my surprise, and rising anger, the tapping resumed with the next session. This time I was determined to find out who the culprit was and make sure that this stopped. I listened carefully to ascertain the direction of the noise. Leaning back and craning my neck, I suddenly saw the scoundrel, the one responsible for my attitude. Just as quickly, I slumped back down in the pew. There was a fellow minister who wore dark glasses and was taking notes in braille, tapping out the words on a board in front of him.
My anger suddenly turned to shame. How quickly I had assumed the worst. I learned a lesson about rushing to judgment.
© 2004, John C. Fitts, III. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume II (2004).
I was interested in the message and trying to pay close attention. Gradually I became aware of a tapping noise. Assuming that it was the nervous habit of a fellow listener, I tried to ignore it. But as the speaker plodded on, the noise became an irritant and distracted me, and I thought, a few others. Finally the speaker concluded and the tapping as well. Surely the rudeness was over, I thought.
To my surprise, and rising anger, the tapping resumed with the next session. This time I was determined to find out who the culprit was and make sure that this stopped. I listened carefully to ascertain the direction of the noise. Leaning back and craning my neck, I suddenly saw the scoundrel, the one responsible for my attitude. Just as quickly, I slumped back down in the pew. There was a fellow minister who wore dark glasses and was taking notes in braille, tapping out the words on a board in front of him.
My anger suddenly turned to shame. How quickly I had assumed the worst. I learned a lesson about rushing to judgment.
© 2004, John C. Fitts, III. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume II (2004).
RSS Feed
