When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

2 Corinthians 3:2 (MSG)You yourselves are all the endorsement we need. Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you.

People watch you every day, especially because you’re so different. You stand out. You do things differently. Your thought process is so completely different than the norm. You deal with situations differently. You react differently than what people expect. Because of this, sometimes people will do things or say things just to evoke a reaction, hoping it will be the way they would react, yet knowing in their heart it won’t be. 

Your reaction to their actions is so all important; much more important than we may realize. You’ve heard, I’m sure, the saying “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” It’s true in the spiritual world as well. 

Someone cuts you off in traffic, doesn’t get over when you’re trying to merge, sticks to your tail... What’s your reaction? Driving one time in very heavy rush hour traffic that was slowed because of a wreck, I followed the progress of a little red sports car. The driver was in a HURRY to get somewhere and cut off every person he could, and every time he’d change lanes, the lane he got in would stop. He was extremely frustrated and it showed in his driving. He made a lot of people mad and almost caused several more wrecks. As we finally passed the wreck, the sports car pulled off. Someone he knew- a loved one, maybe- was involved in the wreck. His world had completely fallen apart and he had to fight to get to where he needed to be. Not being able to explain this to the other drivers was aggravating when people wouldn’t let him go to where he needed. Peoples’ reactions to his aggressive driving put others in danger. Seeing him pull over and park at the scene of the wreck, though, caused my aggravation and frustration at him to immediately evaporate and be replaced with sorrow for the man. Could he have made it to his loved one quicker if I’d been a little more patient and let him in? If my reaction to his insane driving been different, could I have helped him better?

A poem to ponder.... It’s written from the perspective of a child, but I think the principle can be applied to others as well. 

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my 

first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately
wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a
stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind
to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my
favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little
things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a
prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always
talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a
meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I
learned that we all have to help take care of each
other. 

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of 

your time and money to help people who had nothing,
and I learned that those who have something should
give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care 

of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have
to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you
handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't
feel good, and I learned that I would have to be
responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come
from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things
hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you
cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of
life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and
productive person when I grow up. 

When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and
wanted to say,'Thanks for all the things I saw when
you thought I wasn't looking.' 

Let’s put another spin on this poem- 

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I heard you curse at that person in traffic because they cut you off. 

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you yell at your coworker when what had happened had nothing to do with them, but you didn’t take the time to figure out what really went on. 

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you lash out in anger at a child. 

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you laugh when someone got hurt. 

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I heard you make fun of a person’s problem that they can’t do anything about.....

 It works both ways- we have a positive influence or a negative one. 

We go thru life instinctively reacting to the words, situations and actions of others. But if we could see people thru God’s eyes and see where the words and actions are coming from and why they’re really being said, our perspective would change. When our perspective changes, our reaction to what was said or done changes. When our reaction changes, the impact of our reaction changes. We would affect people differently. 

There you have it, dear friends- what is your reaction?

Salut!