Whatcha Looking At?
Are you a rubbernecker?
How often do we hear on the news that rubberneckers cause more trouble than the accident itself? People who are driving past an accident enjoy slowing down to assess the situation for themselves. Whether it's pure curiosity or just plain "nebbiness" rubberneckers want their glimpse.
There are rubberneckers in the church. There are folks who enjoy "looking" at something that's gone wrong, passing judgment and throwing in their two cents. Rubberneckers do not stop and help. They "mind" their own business so to speak and keep going. They have strong opinion about what happened and are not shy about sharing that opinion.
Are you a rubbernecker?
Do you try to solve the problem or do you participate in the problem by gossiping and judging?
Accidents happen. Mistakes happen. No one is perfect. Rubberneckers do not help the problem. They contribute to the problem, and in some ways are worse than the problem itself.
When Jesus rescued Mary Magdalene, it was the by-standers who Jesus spoke to, those ready to cast stones. It is so easy to pick up a stone, to stare, to watch. Reaching out to help, to change, to make things better takes a brave soul.
God calls us to be brave and invites us to participate rather than stare. Wouldn't life be much better if we were problem-solvers rather than rubberneckers?
Keep your focus on making a difference not continuing the problem.
With eyes heaven-ward,
Rev. Dawn Lynn Check