Idiots vs. Fools
Theme of the Week: Venting Prevention
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
 1 of 1
Key Bible Verse: A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted (Proverbs 12:16). Bonus Reading: Proverbs 29:22
A guy rudely cut me off as I was driving my family on a trip. I set things right by cramming my foot to the floor and roaring back in front of him. Brenda and the kids looked at me with bug eyes. "I hate it when you do that!" Brenda exclaimed. "It scares me to death, and besides, it sets a horrible example for the kids."
"I've driven a ton of miles in my life," I responded smugly, "and never had one accident that was my fault. When a guy cuts me off like that, I'm only trying to get back in front of him quickly, where he's less dangerous to me."
"If safety is your concern, why did you make that ugly face at him when you roared by?"
"Look, he's an idiot, and he needs to know that, or he'll do the same thing to everyone else," I said dismissively.
As Frank Sinatra sang one time, "I did it myyyyyy way."
A few days later the Holy Spirit laid [today's Key Bible verse] before me. "Fool" described me perfectly. The world had taught me that real men rule the road. The Lord was using the Word to confront that wrong belief system. His obvious message was, Prudent men overlook insults, even on the road. Chastened, I apologized to Brenda and told the kids what I'd learned about myself.
—Fred Stoeker in Tactics
My Response: From what sources have I picked up my assumptions about manliness?
Thought to Apply: Anger is a stone cast into a wasp's nest. —Malabar (Indian) proverb
Adapted from Tactics (WaterBrook, 2006) by permission.
Copyright © 2009 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
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If I'm ever to gain mastery over my temper, Lord, it will take your strength. I ask for that now.
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