Coming Unglued: I Called A Homeless Man an A-hole

So let me tell you the story about the day I flipped out on a homeless dude. Unfortunately, it is a recent event. I am not pulling out a “time-past-lesson-learned-I-grew-from-my-blunder” story.

It happened a few days ago. I was meeting a dear friend for lunch and was about to turn into the restaurant’s parking lot. A homeless man, dressed in dirty clothes and holding a bag of cans, was also trying to turn into the same parking lot. I thought I would do my Christian duty and offer him the right of way.

Was he grateful? Did he give me a wave or a smile?

No, he yelled at me and acted as if I had totally messed his day up. He completely stopped in the middle of the road and started aggressively waving his hand at me while yelling, “Just go already. Just go!”

Of course I was a little surprised at his reaction but my surprised was quickly replaced by a fire.

I swear I have Irish blood coursing through my veins!

I wish I could tell you that I turned, continued to keep my composure and even said a sweet little Christian prayer for him. I wish I could tell you that I tried to understand his reaction. Maybe he was having a bad day. Frankly, at that moment I didn’t care what type of day he was having.

Not my finest moment. And unfortunately, I could tell you a dozen different and recent stories of me coming unglued in life’s unsure moments.

I have cried. A lot.

I have complained. A lot.

I have lost my temper with my family more times this month than I care to admit.

I have felt totally and completely unglued.

You see, often times, when we have such emotional reactions, it’s an internal queue that something needs fixing. God designed us like that and we should be thankful for the built-in emotional indicator He has given each of us.

After multiple unglued moments, I finally sat back and asked God what was happening. I think I already knew but what can I say, I can be stubborn and I prefer to pretend to be aloof!

I mentioned in another post about having a “coming to Jesus” meeting. Really, I had a one on one meeting with the Man up above and He used His Word and those I love to speak some harsh truth in my life.

I am a control freak.

I am impatient.

I try to do everything in my own power.

And when life hits and I cannot control it, I come unglued. Those unglued moments in my life look differently each time. Sometimes it manifests itself as fear, anger, depression, idleness and other times an excessive need to be busy.

Am I testifying to anyone reading this?

I purchased a book a few years back and I decided to pull it off the shelf for a summer read. The book is called Unglued (Making Wise Choices in the Midst of Raw Emotions.) There is just something about this book and the season I am in that all my being was yelling YES! I am not alone. Lysa admits to flipping out over her towels too.

It had been a while since reading Unglued but the words were profound, even today. There was a section in the book that read,

“I feel broken. Unglued, actually. I have vowed to do better at 2:08 a.m. and 8:14 a.m. and 3:37 p.m. and 9:49 p.m. and many other minutes between. I know that it’s like to praise God one minute and in the next minute yell and scream at my child.” Unglued by Lysa Terkeurst

Or in my case, when I call a homeless man an A-hole.

The point is we are an imperfect work in progress but we serve a perfect God that is ready to renew and refocus us if we are only so willing.

Maybe you are there in life? Do you feel unglued in some part of your life? If so, go check out this book. Sometimes, you just need to be reminded you aren’t alone. And even if we cannot control life, we can control how we act.

 

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