Antidote for Complaining and Controlling

Kopp Disclosure

(John 3:19-21)

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    A favorite story.

    A little boy is sitting in a restaurant with his parents.

    He listens to a very, very, very mean-old-spirited woman at the next table as she complains and complains and complains about almost everyone and everything to her husband.

    Actually, she wasn't thaaaaaaat old; but some people who are very, very, very irregular, irascible, and irreconcilable seem very, very, very old; having lost their zest, zeal, hope, vision, vitality, and...cheer.

    Finally, after finishing his meal, the waitress asks the little boy, "Would you like some ice cream?"

    He replies, "Please!"

    After the waitress places the delicious-eye-popping dish of ice cream in front of him, the little boy takes it to the mean-old-spirited woman and offers, "I think you need this."

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    I've been trying to figure out why some people are sooooooo mean and...

    Yeah, there's a lot to complain about in our world; but...

    Yeah, things seem sooooooo out of control; but...

    There's got to be an antidote for all of the complaining and controlling.

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    I've been to the Sinai many times.

    It ain't exactly Palm Springs...or even Capron, Illinois.

    Desert.

    Sooooooo I guess those folks following Moses would have preferred Palm Springs...or even Capron, Illinois.

    Buuuuuuut on the other hand, God delivered 'em from slavery and was giving 'em a lot more to eat than they really needed.

    They were safe and secure in the everlasting arms.

    O.K., it wasn't Palm Springs...or even Capron, Illinois; buuuuuuut it wasn't Sheol either.

    I've noticed a lot of American, uh, "Christians" are kinda like 'em and that mean-old-woman who needed more than metaphorical ice cream.

    American, uh, "Christians" and others, compared to most of the rest of the world, are sooooooo...spoiled...with sooooooo much more than most others; yet they complain and complain and complain and banter and moan about almost everyone and everything to anybody...who will listen.

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    Despite my vocational myopia, I know just about every "organization" and "family" or wherever two or three aren't always gathered in His name are plagued by insatiable control needs almost as much as complaining.

    People like to control other people; usually imposing rules upon others that they often don't keep themselves.

    It's kinda like that affordable health care stuff that Congress has ruled for everybody but, uh, themselves.

    People whose lives aren't that cheerful like to control others while complaining about 'em and bringing 'em down to their misery.

    It's true.

    Misery likes company.

    Really.

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    What's the answer?

    Jesus, of course.

    It's hard - impossible - to be close to Jesus and wanna control while complaining about everybody and everything around ya.

    People who are close to Jesus know/appreciate/applaud His existential/eternal graces: "Count your blessings...name them one by one...see what God hath done!"

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    People who are close to Jesus complain less than more and don't try to control others.

    People who are close to Jesus wanna free others so they can be who He wants them to be.

    People who are close to Jesus stop making up rules in favor of His recipes for the good life.

    That's always great!

    He always wants what's best for us!

    People who are close to Jesus really have only one rule.

    It's golden,

    Matthew 7:12.

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    Michael was/remains right.

    "You can never have too much sugar!"

    Selah.

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    People who complain and complain and complain and banter and moan need more Jesus in their lives.

    People who try to control others need more Jesus in their lives.

    Yeah, sugar!

    Jesus!

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Blessings and Love!