The Changes in Me
Something I do a lot is when I am walking and meeting people headed in the opposite direction, is I will say “Howdy!”
I was doing this as we were walking the trail up to Mendenhall Glacier in Alaska. I “Howdy’ed” every person we met along the trail and finally Cindy asked me “Why do you do that? You’re not a cowboy.”
I do it to get them to answer, to interact with me.
Sometimes, my “Howdy” will be accompanied by a “How ya’ doin’?” and it used to be that if I didn’t get an answer or if I just received a curt grunt, I would walk away uttering a string of profanities under my breath. Complaining about how unsociable that person was.
But I’ve changed.
The other day, in Wally-World I encountered a man heading the opposite direction and I gave him the whole enchilada.
I said, “Howdy! How ya’ doin’?”
The man continued walking away and didn’t look in my direction or so much as grumble at me. So I continued walking my way as well and I started to . . .
But this time was different.
Instead of cursing him for his silence and curmudgeonly disposition I found myself praying for him. ‘I asked God to reach down and touch this man who must need God’s help to lift whatever burden is upon him and bring joy back (Hopefully, he had it before!) into the man’s life . . . ’
I am finding that the life of a Christian in Training is one of change. Some things are quick, some are slow and so subtle that you won’t even see it happening. But it is there. A continuing metamorphosis from a typical human being to a follower of Christ.
By the way, thanks you Ron Shoulars for teaching me how to say “Howdy”. Ron always had a way of entering a room that was akin to Sheldon Cooper’s three knock mantra. Ron always entered and said, “Howdy! Howdy! Howdy!”
Sincerely,
Your brother in Christ,
Roscoe
Christian in Training