Last night I went to listen to a speaker at a library event. The speaker is a well-known author and if I said her name, people in the book world would immediately recognize her.  She is a Christian, though her political views are very liberal.

 

All excited for a fun evening with 5 other friends, I hoped her comments wouldn’t be too cutting.  I assumed she would express her opinion, and actually wanted her to feel that freedom…that is until I found out how mean she could be.

 

My friends and I enjoyed the beauty of the evening on an open-air balcony overlooking the setting sun.  There was an air of gladness and expectation about us.

 

There were three parts to the evening:

 

First we’d mingle, eat, enjoy – for those who were willing to fork over $30 per plate to enjoy “complimentary” food and drink.  There were only about 80 – 100 of us.

 

Next, we’d move behind the curtain where they had a 30-minute interview with the author.

 

Finally, the doors would open for the free part of the evening - the remaining 1000 people would enter the room to hear the author’s talk. 

 

Well, it wasn’t 2 minutes before our lovely author began bashing the “radical right.” Those obnoxious Christians with a conservative point of view.  She lambasted those who were pro-life, and then she berated members of this current administration, one by one. 

 

But before she started her assault, the author lamented us with a sob story of her own:  Seems she was walking to a hardware store before church one Sunday when a man made a comment about her hair (just so you know, her hair has some accoutrements that would elicit comments).  “This country is getting so mean!” she said.  “There used to be a sense of fairness.”

 

From her bully pulpit she continued to harangue anyone who didn’t mirror her own point of view, much to the enjoyment of a few giggling in the audience.  I looked down the row of chairs.  My friends were sitting on their hands, scowls painted on their faces.  I felt bad for inviting them.

 

We skipped the rest of the lecture, choosing instead to visit and laugh in the cool night air. Friendships were deepened, and we were reminded to, commit our actions to the Lord – for our actions would be established (Proverbs 16:3).  I believe our actions include our words.

 

The staff stopped by to remind us the event would be starting inside.   I told her we wouldn’t be going in, and I slipped a comment, scrawled on a napkin, to the person who was in charge of the author that night – perhaps it would be read during the Q & A.

 

My comment basically said, “You told us a story of how mean someone was to you one Sunday – for a comment he made about your hair - and yet you made at least ½ your audience feel the same way today.”

 

Now, I don’t intend to focus solely on the bad behavior of this author.  It was a good reminder to myself – actions and words can be so damaging.  How do I demonstrate my Christianity?

 

Do I really love my friends as much as myself when I choose to hog the conversation at lunch?  Or when I get impatient with my family?

 

Lord, today will you help me be a vessel of your light and love in a hurting world?  Give me a consciousness about even the insignificant details that come from my mouth.  Let my words and actions bring balm in your name. 

 

 

Posted in People Skills