In the past I have skimmed over these two verses in 1 Peter 4:12-13:

Do not be surprised by the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange is happening to you. But rejoice that you are sharing in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. 

I skimmed over it for one main reason, I felt that no matter what I was going through, it couldn’t be important enough or spiritual enough to qualify as ‘sharing in the sufferings of Christ.’  Thinking this way made the passage somehow irrelevant for me. Lately though, I’ve begun seeing things a bit differently. I’ve come to realize that there are times that my difficulties stem not from my own bad choices, nor my own pride, nor my own sin, but because I have been identified as a follower of Christ. (I write this with humble trepidation and be assured that I only come to this thought after lots of prayer, confession, and self-examination and with the full admission that I could be wrong at any time).  In this light, then, there are times that problems come to me as a result of my faith and the stand for Jesus that I take. 

Okay, then NOW these two verses speak to me, and they give me peace.  Peace first off because they remind me I am not alone.  Jesus suffered horribly on the cross (and I realize that for me, any sort of physical martyrdom is highly unlikely). However. He also suffered when He was mocked and ridiculed. Jesus hurt when He was misunderstood (intentionally and in ignorance). He agonized when those He had come to save just didn’t get it.  It is because of those moments that I have peace.  Second, I have peace because of one word in 1 Peter 4:13 – that small word: when.  The verse doesn’t say we might be overjoyed if Jesus finds a path to glory.  It says we will be overjoyed WHEN His glory is revealed.  How amazing!  How comforting!  How beautiful to know that when I am in hard times because of my faith in Jesus, nothing is tentative, nothing is contingent.  When the time comes, I will be overjoyed. Knowing this gives me strength and hope, and allows me to rejoice today, in this moment, and under these hard circumstances.

Being savvy about someone’s feelings and moderating behavior based on anticipating how someone will react can and usually is, in fact, a judicious act. I know a messy kitchen counter bugs my husband and I try to avoid leaving it cluttered when I can. I’m afraid of dogs and a friend of mine has three.  When I go to her house, before she opens the door, she puts the dogs away.  I have a conservative friend who has a very liberal sister.  When they get together or chat on the phone, they (mostly) agree to honor each other by steering away from the most hot button issues between them.  Prudence, kindness, and respect in action. Good choices.

Somehow, this social accommodation is currently on the decline.

Years ago, we had a lesbian couple as neighbors.  I liked them both. They liked us.  We spent time together – shared meals, visited each other’s homes, helped each other out when we could. For many years after we moved from that house, we exchanged Christmas cards. I counted them my friends, and I believe the sentiment was returned.  In that relationship, I remained faithful to my beliefs, and I assume my neighbors weren’t much changed by my faith or my lifestyle choices, but because of mutual respect we could find common ground and enjoy the friendship.

That was years ago when tolerance and civility were much more in fashion.

Today differences are unallowable.  It seems that differing opinions are unpalatable and even the inkling that someone might disagree requires evasion, not accommodation. Today, it is acceptable to avoid and even cancel someone because you refuse to hear them or give them an opportunity at being gracious.  Or worse, acknowledge that a differing outlook is viable.  Giving up a relationship because of differing outlooks is a tragedy.  It is mean and hurtful, and it is detrimental to both the cancellee and the cancelor.   

Detrimental? Yes. Refusing to embrace the act of respectful accommodation and the welcoming of other ideas and opinions – be that of one’s religion, or sexuality, party affiliation, or any other difference –  hurts each individual and our society.  Shunning and effectively silencing opposing voices and cancelling any threat of hearing those voices robs everyone of the chance to grow because it takes away the ability to hear and consider a differing opinion. Respect is sacrificed. Growth is stunted. To shut out or shut up other than homogeneous voices creates narrow, judgmental minds.   

Years ago I bought a Hallmark card that I thought was funny in its lighthearted treatment of life’s troubles.  The front of the card has a fluffy little kitten sitting happily and seemingly unaware of a huge, spike-collared, big-fanged dog right behind her.  Other cats are running desperately for safety while she sits content.  The front of the card says, “If you are calm and collected while others are losing their heads…” On the inside the sentence continues, “maybe you don’t understand the situation.”

As an accomplished worrier, I have spent years laughing at the silliness of that smiling feline as I identified with the scaredy cats who obviously were smarter and more aware. In my mind, that happy kitty was ridiculous in her ignorance. 

Fast forward to now.  Karl and I have been doing a Bible study on Ephesians.  Something new has begun to emerge for me in this study. Three verses from Ephesians have spoken to my heart and prompted me to begin seeing things another way:

(2:14) For [Jesus] himself is our peace.

(4:1b) I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

(6:13b) So that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground.

Let me explain:  If Jesus is my peace, then I can sit comfortably at His feet and not worry.  He has my back as well as my heart.  Because of this peace, then, I can walk, gratefully and humbly, each day and do what I’m called to do with the reassurance that when hard times happen or I encounter evil, I will be equipped to deal with it.

With this new outlook, my funny greeting card came to mind and I saw it with an entirely different perspective.  Today, I look at that happy, contented, and peaceful cat and think she knows it all.  She’s secure in the knowledge that Someone fierce and mighty has her back.  Because she is safe in His vigilant care, she can look out at her world with a smile and with hope, sitting in confidence and joy.

It occurs to me that this card needs a new punch line, one that reflects what Paul is trying to teach us in Ephesians and one that my heart, tired of a lifetime of useless worry is trying to grasp: “If you are calm and collected while others are losing their heads…. Maybe you finally understand the True situation.”

It took thirteen days, two mechanic’s shops, several repeat replacement parts, a bottle of Tums, and lots of prayer support for me to be able to say

There’s no place like home!  (And we are finally there!)

PS: Thank you to Paco and his crew at Hal Burns Truck RV and Equipment in Santa Fe  for finally getting us fixed and back on the road!