My fingers were slamming the keys before my mind had finished the sentence. My emotions were screaming outrageous, incredible, and idiocy. My body was shaking. I could feel my face getting red. The email demanded an answer, now.
Even as I typed, I could feel a warning voice. There was a sense that I was taking the bait. Everything was scripted, even my reaction. I hit the saved button and waited.
In hindsight, initial reactions are not always right. I realize that my body is often quicker than my mind. I know it reads what I cannot understand, seeing beyond horizons of my known vision. As insightful and accurate as it can be, my body’s insights are less than foolproof. However, at times, I am just wrong.
In catching myself, I find myself holding onto three reminders.
If a situation demands an instant answer born in anger, frustration, or annoyance, it is rarely truth. Truth calls for compassion, empathy, and a willingness to take tough call with reluctance. Urgent demands are best answered from reflection.
Life offers us whispers of wisdom. A quiet sense of caution or a feeling of unease is worth listening to. In the chaos and noise of the moment, it is easy to miss the quiet sounds.
Divinity lives in the lives of those around us. Listening to the wise voices in our lives is never a bad thing. In the past, it has saved lives. “The soldiers decided to kill the prisoners so none could escape by swimming, but the centurion, determined to save Paul, stopped them.” (Acts 27.42) In the present, you and I can touch and be touched.
Today, there were three emails screaming in my head. Two sit unanswered. I answered one with sadness, asking a question or two. In each, I could hear a whisper. If there was a doubt, a wise voice offered to take action on my behalf. It was an amazing experience in working through towards the truth without making matters worse. Not every day works this way. It’s time to celebrate this one.
