Two guys were pumping gas on the opposite side of the pump I was using. I wasn’t paying any attention to their conversation but when one of them left to go inside for coffee the younger came around the pump and said to me, “I apologize for my friend’s language. He is really quite vulgar.” I thanked him for his concern. Even though I heard voices I had not mentally registered any vulgarity or really anything at all.
It made me wonder about my classes. Even though my students hear my voice I seriously doubt if many mentally register anything at all. Then there is the issue of the Holy Spirit trying to communicate with us. That still small voice sometimes roars at us and we never register anything at all because we are not paying attention. God is always present; therefore, no opportunity for Him to tell us something is wasted. God is an opportunist. One might even go so far as to accuse Him of being pushy. The reason He is that way is He understands the eternal importance of our responses to Him. If we saw a child playing in the middle of the street we would do everything we could to get her attention either by yelling or running to grab her. God sees the truck coming. Usually we do not.
Let’s go back to the young man at the gas pump. I appreciated his concern and civility. He did not have to say anything to me. I am guessing his parents did a very good job raising him. We usually judge a craftsman by the quality of their work and I can’t think of any craftsmanship more important than parenting.
Written by Roger Bothwell on November 25, 2013
Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org