Oh, Those Technicalities

Ephesians 4 gives some insight on how to respond when we think that life is not fair:
29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.
There are going to be instances in our lives when things don't go our way, and we even feel that we are treated unfairly.   And, there is a place to make an appeal, utilizing a Christ-centered tone.   But, if we allow ourselves to become bitter about life's injustices or we find ourselves complaining more than we should, it becomes spiritually counterproductive.   Just because life doesn't seem fair sometimes doesn't exempt us from displaying Christlike character.   The Bible warns against bitterness, and we are not justified to allow resentment or anger to build up, even when we think we've been wronged.
In James chapter 1, we see that God has a purpose even in the midst of life's technicalities that could distract or derail our spiritual walk:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Recently, a Texas high school track team won a relay race by seven yards, but lost out on the opportunity to advance to the state championships after officials disqualified the team because one of their runners “put his hand by his ear and … pointed to the heavens," according to a report on ChristianNews.net. The father of runner Derrick Hayes, K.C. Hayes, said:  “You cross a finish line and you’ve accomplished a goal, and within seconds it’s gone...To see four kids — What does that tell them about the rest of their lives? You’re going to do what’s right, work extra hard and have it ripped away from you?”

The University Interscholastic League released a statement saying, “The meet official indicated the athlete crossed the finish line and gestured upward with his arm and finger and behaved disrespectfully toward meet officials, in their opinion...In the judgment of the official, this was a violation of NFHS track & field rule 4-6-1.  The regional meet referee concurred with this decision and the student was subsequently disqualified.”   The decision cannot be appealed.

So you do the work, complete it well, and it is thrown out on a technicality.   It can be rather maddening, can't it?   And, we've all been there.    NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne was there Saturday night at Talladega - he crossed the finish line first, but just before that, a wreck occurred, the caution flag was brought out just before the end of the race, and it was determined that Regan Smith was leading at that moment - race goes to Smith.   A technicality.

These "technicalities" definitely take place in the realm of the technical, too.  A major project or a portion of it that has to be redone because you failed to save your work.   A computer hard drive crash that results in hours of restoring data.   The audio file that doesn't record quite right.

Life is full of technicalities - and we encounter instances where we think things are just not fair.   Two questions for us as we begin our week:  1) how do we respond to what we perceive as injustice?  and 2) how can God use those moments to strengthen our faith and build character?  

I certainly don't believe anger and frustration are the proper responses, or allowing ourselves to become mired in disappointment or despondency.   I wouldn't blame Mr. Hayes if he took the track matter to court, but if it becomes an overwhelming, all-consuming passion that is not directed by the Lord and becomes a distraction, then perhaps another course could be chosen. 

And, even in the midst of life's technicalities, we remember the trying of our faith brings patience.  And, that God works everything for the good of those who love Him.   So, even when we think life is not fair, we have to look to a higher purpose and respond with anticipation of what He wants to bring out of those discouraging circumstances.