Or at least smacked it into a state of stunned acquiescence.
Short Story:
I was at choir rehearsal tonight. (Yes I joined the choir at the church we are visiting. They are doing a Singing Christmas Tree and I couldn’t resist!) Something hurt my feelings and I became rather tearful. I tried to keep it to myself as I did not want any attention and would not have been able to explain what was wrong if someone had asked. (I mean, it would have taken too long and sounded rather pathetic - not that I couldn’t find the words. And NO I’m not telling you either!) After rehearsal I booked it to my car faster than a speeding glissando and proceeded to give full vent to my woe. Hurt feelings combined with I just moved here/homesick angst and lo and behold I was smack in the middle of my own little weeping pity party. (not a good idea while driving, mind you). After a few miles I figured I better try to get it under control, being as I was on the interstate, after all. I turned on the radio. Now being here in El Paso has, amongst many other blessings, the bonus of a good Christian radio station…the force known as K-LOVE. I tuned in just in time for a few commercials, then a song came on. Natalie Grant’s Held. The first verse speaks of the death of a two month old baby…
And all I could say was Dear Lord forgive me. I am such a brat.
I think of people suffering that unfathomable loss. I think of stories like this one. And I think of my pitiful little pinprick of a hurt feeling and I can’t stand how spoiled I am. Anybody else ever feel like that?
Now I’d be lying if I said that I immediately felt all happy happy joy joy and forgot all about my little hurt. Unfortunately my heart doesn’t listen all that well to my head. But at least my head quit wallowing in self-pity and coming up with more reasons to feel like I’d been wronged. And the radio played on into Joy by the Newsboys, picking me up with its infectious groove…
You give me joy that’s unspeakable
And I like it, And I like it
Your love for me is irresistible
I can’t fight it, I can’t fight it
You carried the cross and took my shame
I believe it, I believe it
You shine Your light of amazing grace
I receive it, I receive it
I’m grateful to be getting smacked around on the other side of the radio.
I earnestly beseech all who conceive they have suffered an affront to believe that it is very much less than they suppose. -William Law