Think Before You Drink

Think Before You Drink Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 NIV At church I saw a person that I hadn't seen in some time. The last time we had spoken it was over a year ago and it ended in a heated exchange. Yet, when I saw her, I did not hesitate to greet her. I was snubbed. She acted as though I was not even there. I proceeded on and found my seat in church. Sometime later she came into church and I decided to try to make contact once more. I gestured to her, waving “hello” and offering a vacant seat in my row. I was once again snubbed. She went to the opposite side of the church to find a better seat but ended up two chairs away from me as the other side was full. At the end of service, the communion elements (crackers and juice), were passed out. I silently wondered if she would consume them. I wondered how she could reverently take part in communion to remember an invisible dude named Jesus, but carry a grudge (or indifference) for a person sitting right next to her? I am aware that forgiveness is easier when the person is miles away (sort of a pseudo forgiveness because in most cases a change of heart has not happened). And I know it is a more difficult task to forgive when the person is right next to you. But I also know that the longer you hate, the easier it is to keep hating. Hate can survive so long that you can forget the true cause and conjure new reasons to keep the feud alive. When you dislike someone, it is easy to forget that God loves them. Maybe that is a bitter pill; God loves someone you hate. If God were smart like me, he would hate them too. But God incessantly shows His “differentness” (if that is a word). He forgives when there is no reason to forgive. He forgives because of who He is, not because of who we are. Well, she ate the cracker. I was shocked! I watched (if it were possible) her heart becoming more like stone. I watched her mind become dull (if that were possible too). I closed my eyes and asked God to forgive me if I was being arrogant, knowing that I had made an effort to live at peace with her. Then I asked God to help me remember the cross. I ate the cracker and drank the cup. When I opened my eyes she was gone. I have no clue as to whether she drank the cup or not...