eyes everywhere.

Listening and singing along to Yeng's Salamat, still high from last Sunday's Christmas party for our beloved children from the Readers' Patrol, heart and entire face smiling, when out of nowhere, a skateboard flies onto your car's door and creates a 3-inch scratch -slash- mini dent.

So.

I stop the car right in the middle of the road, mid-turn. Get out of the car, and feel the need to punch said skateboarder. Forget about God, but hear a voice at the back of your head saying, "Let go, forgive, be a witness."

But I am a stubborn child, fight the voice, and confront the skateboarder, who may as well have been drunk. In front of the now-gathered crowd of drivers, commuters; a crowd, nonetheless. "This is your responsibility! Where's the police? There needs to be a police report! I don't care if it's a skateboard and there's nothing you can do, this is your fault!" Anger, frustration, and once more, the feeling of needing to punch said skateboarder, or anyone, really.


---


Because I was already causing traffic, I drove away as the skateboarder sped off. With windows rolled down, I stepped on the gas and screamed in the car -- because that was "all" I could do at that moment. It was definitely better than punching someone.

But I sped off, turned around, went back to the main road in hopes of coming across this guy, to do what, I'm not so sure. Run him over? Threaten him? I don't know. He was apologetic, there was no doubt about that, but at that moment, saying "sorry" profusely was not enough for me.

I was unsuccessful at finding the guy, so there was no punching nor running over or threatening involved, but I was so angry that I just plopped myself on the bed and cried, and of course, spoke to God.

I apologized to God for failing Him. He showers me, lovingly, with grace each day, yet there I was, angry at a small scratch, and worse, displaying my anger in front of others. There were probably non-believers in that crowd, no doubt. Instead of showcasing God's grace and love, I chose to do differently. Is this the way to witness? No, of course it isn't.

This incident has made such an impact on me:
Be a witness, follow Jesus' example. No matter where you are, what time it is, or what has happened. This is how we draw others closer to God, just as Jesus drew followers two thousand years ago.
Don't allow the devil to manipulate your thoughts, which eventually turn into undesired action(s). While crying out to the Lord, I realized that the evil one may take two seconds or two minutes of our joy away, but God holds the rest of the milliseconds in His hands. To acknowledge that and to say, "Not today, Satan, stay away from me!" is to make God's presence and power known. It is reassuring, and at that moment, it gave me a sense of peace.
Practice grace. God never tires of showering us with grace, and has saved us from worse incidents. Do the same for others. You never know who you will introduce to Christ in this manner.
Obedience. When you hear His voice, stop, breathe in, breathe out, obey His word. Really.


It's not easy, but it can be done, with His help.