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From Rev. Brock Patterson
"Faith Ain't Easy"
Over the Labor Day weekend, I witnessed two different people littering the island with trash. The first incident involved a car full of young people who threw a can out of their window into the front yard of an oceanside home. There were plenty of witnesses to the event (lots of traffic on the roadway and sidewalks), yet still, the guilty person had no reserve for committing the crime.
The second incident involved a local resident. He and his significant other were walking their dogs in front of their own condominium complex. Someone else had obviously dropped (accidentally or purposely) a "doggie bag" on the front lawn of the Condo. Upon discovering the bag, the resident threw the doggie bag into the middle of the main roadway instead of disposing of it properly. Plenty of bystanders witnessed this event as well.
I don't get it. Two different instances of litter in broad daylight: One involving a resident and one involving a visitor. Here I am, witnessing each event and ready to cast stones at both sinners, yet I didn't try to retrieve either bit of trash. My excuses are valid (I don't want to get COVID by touching someone's beer can and I don't want to scrape a smooshed pooh bag from Gulf of Mexico Drive), but does that excuse me from doing good for the Community? I was mad when I witnessed both crimes, but now I'm really angry because those two people are now causing me to experience guilt.
This "Faith" thing ain't easy. The more I seem to learn, the more difficult it becomes to practice. Routine activities can be rudely interrupted, and passing by on the other side of the road doesn't seem to work anymore. How dare the guilty parties cause me this much grief! I'm even excusing their behavior and blaming it upon myself! Faith ain't supposed to be this difficult!
Come to Bible Study and Worship this week and we'll discover why, "Reaping What We Sow", doesn't always seem to be true. Stay safe and healthy!
God Bless, Brock
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