I expected for something at some point to get stolen on the race. It’s just something that happens. Going to 11 different countries and not always being in charge of your stuff, you kind of have to expect it. But what I didn’t expect was to get my stolen thing back.
The first week in Granada, two of my teammates and I went to the market to get fresh vegetables. We brought our backpacks to put our veggies in so we wouldn’t have to carry them by hand back to El Puente, our ministry base. As we were about to cross from the market to the town square, I felt something being pulled from my backpack. I looked over my shoulder and saw a man on a bike riding away with my rain jacket. My immediate response was, “Oh… that was my rain jacket.” He was on a bike and there was no way I was going to get it back.
Just as I was praying it wouldn’t pour rain that day, something strange happened.
As the man on the bike turned the corner, my jacket got caught in his back tire. The arm of the jacket got wrapped around the chain and the spokes so he physically could not ride his bike any further. When I saw the guy get off his bike with my jacket intertwined and bring it up to the sidewalk, the PG version of my initial reaction was, “HA! Sucker. How embarrassing.”
We stood there watching as this man yanked, wrestled, and eventually cut my jacket out of his bike. When he started to untangle my jacket, I stood there with my arms crossed, snickering under my breath. Partially laughing at the madness of the situation, and partially laughing at him. He got caught. Not only did he get caught, but he also had to go through the embarrassment of fixing it and giving it back. My mind immediately went to finding enjoyment in someone else’s shame.
Then he looked at me.
When he was getting close to cutting it free, we noticed a few other guys approaching the situation. The man looked up at them, and then looked over at me. I could suddenly feel his sense of urgency to flee the situation. He felt like he had to give my jacket back, but he wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. His eyes darted back and forth between the bike, my teammates and me, and these guys who had crowded around. The shame he felt was so clear on his face and in his eyes. Once he finally cut it free, he handed me my jacket (fully in contact), hopped on his bike and rode off as quickly as possible. Kody tried to start a conversation with him afterwards, but all that he could say was “Dios te amo” or “God loves you.”
As I left that situation, I realized how ugly my initial gut reaction was. The Lord presented a perfect opportunity for me to offer grace, love and mercy, but instead I laughed. I delighted in someone’s guilt and shame and called it “justice.” I wanted him to feel that way because he wronged me and got caught.
Looking back, this incident was taught me about humility, especially humility to people who have wronged me. We all live in a fallen world, so every person struggles. I don’t want to define people based on their sin. Every person on this earth needs to experience the grace of God.
“Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.” -2 Corinthians 2: 7-8
I am no better or no less than that man. I am not just called to forgive people that have wronged me, but also comfort them and reaffirm my love for them. I want to be someone that helps to carry others’ burdens, not someone that puts a heavier weight on their shoulders.
It was also a lesson in humility to Christ. I wrong Him daily because I live in a fallen world and struggle with my sinful nature. But He extends forgiveness, comfort and love to me daily. He doesn’t want me to be overcome with excessive sorrow, but He wants me to live under His grace. He took the weight of my sin upon His shoulders and died on the cross so I could have a relationship with Him.
Something being stolen on the race was an expectation of mine. What I didn’t expect was for the Lord to use it as a lesson in humility and a reminder of His amazing grace.
