Maybe I’ve Had It Coming
While listening to Rush Limbaugh at work this morning, he said something that got my attention.
Rush is good at saying things that get people’s attention…that’s why he’s been on the radio for so many years, in the process becoming the most listened to person in the medium’s history.
Rush was addressing the issue of the amazing amount of simply vituperative criticism he receives from those who disagree with him, or just plain don’t like him. Does all that criticism bother him?
No, says Rush. After all, he has been perhaps the most vocal and effective critic of THOSE people for the past 18 years….why would he not expect to get that kind of reaction in return for his trouble? What would be hard to understand is if he would NOT get that kind of treatment. Therefore, since it comes with the territory, he can deal with it.
Lately, I’ve been distracted by the amount of criticism I’ve recieved, both openly and covertly, from some people I have fellowshipped with on the various southern gospel message boards I frequent. Some of the most vocal critics of mine base their criticism on a very short period of fellowship, not long enough to POSSIBLY know me well enough to say some of the things they’ve said. Yet they blather on, trying to undermine other relationships I’ve established in those communities, and because of their exaggerated self-assessments, think they’re “showing me” a thing or two.
I really have no resentment against these people…I have no reason to. I am no victim, even though they assert that I try to make myself one. I take my lead from my Lord…I forgive them, for they know not what they say or do.
And because I continue to try to live the way I do, and I don’t react publicly to their puerile attempts to denigrate me, but try to live my life as I should…AND I have many friends right in front of them who refuse to listen to their carping…they really resent me these days!
But, as is the case with Rush, perhaps they should…after all, I have no intention of letting these individuals rob me of my joy in Jesus…no wonder I’ve become a disappointment to them. And unless something changes, they likely always will be. And that’s OK…if that’s the problem, then I deserve what I’m getting.
Certain things do come with the territory of trying to hold fast to the principles I’ve learned from my Lord.
So if that’s the price I must pay, so be it. I’ll be just fine, and I love them all just the same.
Posted on Jun 30, 2006 - 08:54 PM | [1]
Comments |
Misc
|
Permalink
Page 1 of 1 pages
Comments
Page 1 of 1 Comment Pages
Page 1 of 1 Comment Pages
June 30th, 2006 at 5:16 pm e
Similarly, John, I once received some sage advice from an old, battle tested Spiritual warrior. He said, I wear my enemies like a badge of honor. He did not go out and try to MAKE enemies, mind you, but when he encountered them he considered it validation of what he was doing.
In other words, there are some people that I WANT to oppose me. I neither share their worldview nor their penchant for pettiness. So, as you and Rush said it is inevitable that they will rise in opposition. When we stand for what is right, live right, proclaim right, those who aren’t right will rise up out of their ooze.
She was not as prominent as Rush nor as eloquent as you, but my dear grandmother used to always say, when you throw a rock into a pack of dogs, the one who yelps is the one who was hit. Shakespeare said it this way, “Methinks he doth protest too much.”
So, join me in learning to wear enemies as a battle-earned medal of honor.
Oh, and another thing . . . I have started praying Psalm 86. I encourage you to do the same.