your biggest enemy

last week I was having lunch at jack in the box with jane- we finished up and she stopped to use the restroom before we ran more errands. it was one of those situations where the restaurant had to push a button on the counter to open up the bathroom. so I asked the counter people to push the button, and was making sure it opened, when a bunch of ladies walked in the door. they had a coffee cup and some lollipops and started asking me if I wanted to make a donation to their church. I was watching jane, and talking to the counter people, and I wasn't really paying attention to the church ladies.

then one of them came straight up to me and started asking me questions. she was a really old Hispanic lady with wrinkles like mother Teresa. she grabbed my wrist and said, "do you know who your biggest enemy is? have you ever heard about your biggest enemy is?"

I was pretty sure that she was going to tell me that satan was my biggest enemy and about my need for jesus. so I finally focused on her and said, "who is my biggest enemy?"

and then she looked me right in the eyes and said, "YOU are your biggest enemy. aren't you?"
"when you are impatient- you do things that you wish you didn't don't you? its YOU that is your biggest enemy."

and then she walked off. jane came out of the bathroom and we left the restaurant.
at first I thought that she was kind of a weird lady; but in recent days, my patience has been tested. people in front of me are slow, service at stores is bad, kids (including my own) misbehave; and there is a temptation inside of me to do something or say something that I might regret out my impatience and frustration with the situation. and then I remember that lady- and how my own impatient self is my worst enemy- and that helps me to coach myself to be patient.

and it reminds me of that verse in Hebrews that says, "do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it." and it makes me wonder- "WAS she an angel sent to warn me not to be impatient?"

whether she was an angel or she wasn't- it was good advice.
for me- and for you too-

God is love.
-rev-rob