JUST A MILD ROAR

He's always done it. God, that is. Put someone smack in the middle of my path. I know it's no accident.

On our recent trip to South America, we were returning from an excursion in Monti Christi, Ecuador. We were very tired having endured a longer than scheduled tour that took us past our normal lunch time. As we were preparing to go through security to re-board our ship, I was delegated to hold a large bag filled with souvenirs. I had to hold the bottom to ensure no breakage. It was like holding a pig.

The timing was very bad. Several other tours were ending at the same time which meant a very long line. After 15 minutes in the line, we approached the gangway. Out of the corner of my eye I could see him. Yep, he cut in line. In front of several people who had been waiting patiently.

"If I were just a little closer to where he cut, I would have had some words with that guy," I announced to my wife and a couple we had met earlier in the week from North Carolina.

"Now, don't let him ruin your day," Finley said.

"Of course, you're right," I replied. "But some people," I trailed off.

And I was reminded of Numbers 11:1 where we are told not to grumble."Now the people complained about their hardships...and when He heard them His anger was aroused." He was so angry that fire consumed some of their camp until Moses prayed to the Lord for the Israelites.

When we grumble, it means we are grumbling against God Himself. We are showing our arrogance, feeling that we know what's better for us than God. That was me with the line-cutter. It took a new friend whom God placed there for me to teach me.

As I said, He's always done that. Sometimes I learn, sometimes I recognize,and unfortunately sometimes I don't see it, much like the pagan prophet Balaam in a later chapter from the same book.

A work in progress--that's me.