Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Since last Friday, August 23rd, I have needed this verse daily. I am thankful for now I have located it; still waiting for my bible and devotional to come from the village where I was living at the beginning of the month. At least there are biblical apps that one can use, so I can hear God saying to me now, "no excuses, Mr. Tower, you still have the word on that handy little device of yours."
Here's the story now. Hold on, need a little music to get the mind stimulated. Now I am ready to type away. So we have this guest who has stayed in the hostel since last Friday. He came in from Serbia, on a bus, I vaguely recall. He paid us for ten days, only carrying a briefcase with him. Conversation with him that day was somewhat pleasant. We gave him some suggestions on places to get food, and to purchase inexpensive clothes as well. Mr. Rolan, who is a Russian-born American citizen, literally came in with just the clothes he was wearing.
Starting Saturday evening the man kind of turned into this Scrooge-like character. Whenever someone in the hostel would attempt conversation with him, negativity would just come rolling out of his mouth like wildfire. Sometimes he would say something and one would be unable to hear what was said. Then the man would become very upset, because he would have to raise his voice. One night he even came in the common room area, sat down and started telling me Jewish jokes, which even came with a few lame punchlines. According to our owner, he is a Jewish man, who has lived in Russia, Poland, America, and perhaps some other lands as well.
Now let's progress to this week, when things have come very close to hitting the fan. I have tried to be as positive as possible about this situation, because you never know what someone has been through, especially if their lives have spanned a much longer time. In our hostel there is still a little work to be finished, so there is one toilet and shower for about 6-10 of us these days.
As a "staff" member, I tend to move around this place quite a bit, and check on things every few hours. There have been instances where I am coming from the dining/bathroom area into the main common area. At the same time this older man will be walking towards the bathroom. Whenever Mr. Rolan sees me walking from that area he will stop, and then I will stop as well, waiting for him to pass by, as I should. One would expect he would acknowledge the respectful gesture and pass on by with appreciation. Instead he becomes very disgusted, and will walk back to where he was sitting on his bed in the big dormitory room area.
I believe Tuesday was one of the days that one of these little episodes took place. I saw the man coming, begged and begged him to pass by, and he refused. Instead of walking to the common room, I just directed myself towards a room that was being painted this week. That way he would pass by eventually, or so you'd think. After a good 5-10 minutes, I went to grab something from my bed.
This is part where the you know what hit the fan. As I stepped in the room for a quick moment, the man looks me and says "you know I was going to the restroom." That's the clean version for ya. I responded by saying "I know you were going that way, and as someone who was taught respect at an early age for someone older, I was waiting to let you pass." At that time, another few unkind words rolled out of his mouth. Instead of walking out of the room, I let him get the best of the Tower.
Looking straight at him I wanted to make something clear. "If you are going to disrespect me, then make sure you do it without yelling profanities at me. I do not appreciate of this, and I have been very respectful towards you (especially when others badmouth him behind his back, just being a few feet away). He did apologize and said he would not use such language around me next time.
This negativity has drug on and on this week from this man. The Lord has blessed me with a TOUGH challenge. It is hard to accept that someone like this can exist, especially with an American passport too. I even asked him yesterday if there was something that bothered him, or if someone had done something to him. He got really offended by this and yelled "are you going to play Mr. Psychology now?" I almost wanted to say yes I understand Psychology, especially after killing a few people during my childhood.
There were even moments when Jimmy the Aussie, and I would be scratching the back of our heads as he passed by, and we get our heads eaten off. Turns out in some countries there is an offensive gesture that stems from touching the back of your head? Both of us were clueless as to how we offended him on that one.
There is so much more that could be written, but it will not be written tonight. God has given me a test, and if he asked me to grade myself, I would say "God, I give myself an 82%." I could have used a little more of the gentleness medicine on him, and I probably could have ignored the profanities that have been mumbled under his breath too. He has three more nights here, and perhaps everyone can be friendly enough towards him that something will trigger the kindness button inside of him to turn on. I did hear the words "excuse me", and "please" out of him last night, so there is hope. Gotta have hope.
Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Since last Friday, August 23rd, I have needed this verse daily. I am thankful for now I have located it; still waiting for my bible and devotional to come from the village where I was living at the beginning of the month. At least there are biblical apps that one can use, so I can hear God saying to me now, "no excuses, Mr. Tower, you still have the word on that handy little device of yours."
Here's the story now. Hold on, need a little music to get the mind stimulated. Now I am ready to type away. So we have this guest who has stayed in the hostel since last Friday. He came in from Serbia, on a bus, I vaguely recall. He paid us for ten days, only carrying a briefcase with him. Conversation with him that day was somewhat pleasant. We gave him some suggestions on places to get food, and to purchase inexpensive clothes as well. Mr. Rolan, who is a Russian-born American citizen, literally came in with just the clothes he was wearing.
Starting Saturday evening the man kind of turned into this Scrooge-like character. Whenever someone in the hostel would attempt conversation with him, negativity would just come rolling out of his mouth like wildfire. Sometimes he would say something and one would be unable to hear what was said. Then the man would become very upset, because he would have to raise his voice. One night he even came in the common room area, sat down and started telling me Jewish jokes, which even came with a few lame punchlines. According to our owner, he is a Jewish man, who has lived in Russia, Poland, America, and perhaps some other lands as well.
Now let's progress to this week, when things have come very close to hitting the fan. I have tried to be as positive as possible about this situation, because you never know what someone has been through, especially if their lives have spanned a much longer time. In our hostel there is still a little work to be finished, so there is one toilet and shower for about 6-10 of us these days.
As a "staff" member, I tend to move around this place quite a bit, and check on things every few hours. There have been instances where I am coming from the dining/bathroom area into the main common area. At the same time this older man will be walking towards the bathroom. Whenever Mr. Rolan sees me walking from that area he will stop, and then I will stop as well, waiting for him to pass by, as I should. One would expect he would acknowledge the respectful gesture and pass on by with appreciation. Instead he becomes very disgusted, and will walk back to where he was sitting on his bed in the big dormitory room area.
I believe Tuesday was one of the days that one of these little episodes took place. I saw the man coming, begged and begged him to pass by, and he refused. Instead of walking to the common room, I just directed myself towards a room that was being painted this week. That way he would pass by eventually, or so you'd think. After a good 5-10 minutes, I went to grab something from my bed.
This is part where the you know what hit the fan. As I stepped in the room for a quick moment, the man looks me and says "you know I was going to the restroom." That's the clean version for ya. I responded by saying "I know you were going that way, and as someone who was taught respect at an early age for someone older, I was waiting to let you pass." At that time, another few unkind words rolled out of his mouth. Instead of walking out of the room, I let him get the best of the Tower.
Looking straight at him I wanted to make something clear. "If you are going to disrespect me, then make sure you do it without yelling profanities at me. I do not appreciate of this, and I have been very respectful towards you (especially when others badmouth him behind his back, just being a few feet away). He did apologize and said he would not use such language around me next time.
This negativity has drug on and on this week from this man. The Lord has blessed me with a TOUGH challenge. It is hard to accept that someone like this can exist, especially with an American passport too. I even asked him yesterday if there was something that bothered him, or if someone had done something to him. He got really offended by this and yelled "are you going to play Mr. Psychology now?" I almost wanted to say yes I understand Psychology, especially after killing a few people during my childhood.
There were even moments when Jimmy the Aussie, and I would be scratching the back of our heads as he passed by, and we get our heads eaten off. Turns out in some countries there is an offensive gesture that stems from touching the back of your head? Both of us were clueless as to how we offended him on that one.
There is so much more that could be written, but it will not be written tonight. God has given me a test, and if he asked me to grade myself, I would say "God, I give myself an 82%." I could have used a little more of the gentleness medicine on him, and I probably could have ignored the profanities that have been mumbled under his breath too. He has three more nights here, and perhaps everyone can be friendly enough towards him that something will trigger the kindness button inside of him to turn on. I did hear the words "excuse me", and "please" out of him last night, so there is hope. Gotta have hope.
Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
With a post so long, this verse had to be placed down here as well.
Prayer - Dear God,
Please teach us patience, even in the most extreme cases where you challenge us to a point where we may acknowledge that we have had enough. Teach us to choose compassion and kindness over anger and negativity. Through this dear God, we learn our true strengths, and learn to attack our weaknesses. In doing so Lord, may we be a light for others. Bless us God in order that we may use compassion and kindness as weapons to rid the world of hate and negativity.
We thank you for your compassion and kindness God. Through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
There is something with this man and it may be buried very deep. Who knows? I am very proud of you for keeping your cool and using this as an opportunity to be in prayer that this man may be touch in some way by the holy spirit.
ReplyDelete"May the Lord Bless you and keep you, may the Lord make His face to Shine upon you, and be gracious unto you, may the Lord lift up his Countenance upon you, and give you peace"
Turn the the other check, and remember the fruits of the spirit.
And of course Have FUN!