In Christ, No One is Annoying

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Today’s reading: 2 Corinthians 5:11-21

I overheard a familiar conversation amongst some McDonald’s employees the other day.

“You working tomorrow?”

“Yeah, I have to work, 11 to 8 in the back — with Cindy.”

“”Wow, I feel sorry for you!”

“Yeah, she called in sick today. Maybe she won’t come tomorrow either.”

I chuckled at this and remembered my days working at a pizza joint and at a department store. My friends and I used to have the same sort of conversation regularly. I remember even asking God a time or two to make sure my schedule didn’t include too many hours with an annoying co-worker or manager.

It’s funny. I never considered that people were probably making the same prayer about me.

Today’s reading is asking me (and all of us) to stop that sort of thing.

“From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view;even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way.” (Verse 16)

This brings to mind a “controversy” that sprang up during the 2008 campaign for U.S. President. Several of Barack Obama’s opponents — Republicans and Democrats alike — expressed deep concern over his willingness to talk to leaders of our country’s “enemies,” namely Iran and North Korea.

It’s clear that those critics had not fully considered Paul’s words in today’s reading.

Though I have been guilty many times in my life of avoiding people whose behavior or opinions are annoying, frustrating or even frightening, I am grateful that Christianity discourages that. Christ’s words from the cross are endlessly inspirational to me:  “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”

I keep company these days with a lot of troubled people whose behavior is often irresponsible or even bizarre.  And I often hear from others that I am “a saint for putting up with them.”

Let me make it clear to The Vatican now: I reject any nomination for sainthood.

Christ forgave his torturers, so the least I can do is find the time for coffee and friendly conversation with someone I might — outside of Christ — find annoying.

Thanks be to God for the glorious blessings of forgiveness and reconciliation. May I always remember them.