Frustration

Matthew 7:12 - So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Life in quarantine can fray the edges of our nerves. Stuff we would never notice before, we now notice. Stuff we’d notice as a little annoying, is very annoying. Stuff that was annoying before, can make us downright angry. This is a natural outcropping of the general level of stress and anxiety we are living under. Six months ago, we wouldn’t think twice about popping into a store or grabbing a bite to eat. Now we need to wear masks and gloves and plan our outings with greater precision. It is easy for this to feel like it’s all too much.

As our collective fuses get shortened, it becomes fundamentally important to recognize the stress we are facing and do our best to give an extra measure of grace to the people we are sequestered with or that we may come in contact. “That inconsiderate jerk is going the wrong way down the grocery store aisle, even when they are so clearly marked!” Maybe they are just frazzled and trying to get out of the store as quickly as possible. There’s an adage called Hanlon’s Razor that says, "Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." Maybe they made a mistake and are not intentionally trying to ruin your day.

We like to put people into boxes; we get an impression and generalize from there. However, if we can move a person from “someone who is in my way” to “someone who is also going through a stressful time” we can be kinder and more compassionate. We all need a little more grace than usual these days. The smallest thing can send us down a path of anger and frustration. What if you took Matthew 7:12, “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them,” to heart? 

We want people to be patient with us. We want to be given the benefit of the doubt that what we did was done as a minor slipup and not malice. People make mistakes; it can’t be avoided. Our patience will get tested, now more than ever, but if we devote ourselves to grace and peace, I hope we can be a little more patient and a little more kind. Maybe we can do someone the simple favor of just thinking they’re a little stupid?