Pearls and swine

One of my not so strong points is that I have never really been a blunt or candid person and I think that while there might be many reasons for this, it is partly because my default settings often demand that I give people the benefit of the doubt. Many our table conversations at home include my husband shaking his head after a while and asking me why I am defending some random person that doesn't even know my name.

My mum says that I am naive. She seems to think that I perceive the world as being full of rainbows and marshmallows. That I trust people too much and stuff like that. Maybe she is right. I got spanked for leaving the house by myself when I was eleven to help a stranger find a home they were looking for- and I wasn't even sure which house they were after! And I did have a record for having way to many interactions in taxis at home which may have included giving away my phone number. I was also the girl that would be excited when in a taxi by myself (plus the conductor and driver) even if it was after dusk because I felt like I was having private service. I did invite some two men into my home for lunch when I bumped into them on the street- I had met them only once before at a gathering and I was home by myself.

Maybe I am a little naive. I hope that being able to write about means I am much better now? Maybe!

Anyway... Being here.. I have gotten used to being asked all kinds of questions (sometimes by random people):

Where are you from? 
How long have you been in Australia?
Why did you come here?
Are you planning on staying here or going back?
Did you marry here or in Uganda?
What are you doing now? 
And oh.. how can I forget the old time favourite: How come you speak English? (Or.. your English is good!?? Which is sometimes coupled with where did you go to school? (I have been asked before if I have gone to school)

Questions... questions. I too like asking questions because I am the curious kind and my church family didn't help because we just used to ask each other questions all the time! Ranging from: who do you have a crush on to what do you believe is your life purpose? (Oh Sandra, I miss thee!):-D. Anyway, I often assumed that these people's questions were motivated by curiosity, sometimes genuine concern or other times just making small talk. I often answered honestly and even (sometimes) took time to do a bit of education when I would hear stereotypes and stuff. I would often argue with my friends that most people are not really racist, they are mostly ignorant and have a skewed world view that has been influenced by media, upbringing and lack of exposure.

Recently, I had an encounter which dumbfounded me. Completely. I was muted. I could not believe the blatant and shameless manner in which one daughter of Eve spoke/interrogated/disrespected my hubby and I when we met her at a friendly event. I couldn't believe it. I know you are probably wondering why I was so surprised, don't I read the news or at least follow FB and see all the videos of stuff that happens to pips all over the world??!!! I do! I do! But I find it hard to accept that people can have badness in them. I honestly find it hard to grasp that a person can lie in their bed, plan to kill another and actually follow through! That actually when we put fences, barbed wire and electric defenses up, we are not trying to keep out wild animals but rather, other people like us. That it's people who rape, defile and do all kinds of hideous things to each other. People!!! I guess that's why Jesus came!

Anyway, I got home deflated, trying to figure out  what the Lord wanted me to learn from all of this. I was just about to decide to "keep" myself and not bother interacting with people when I got it!

23 When Jesus returned to the Temple and began teaching, the leading priests and elders came up to him. They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right?”

24 “I’ll tell you by what authority I do these things if you answer one question,” Jesus replied. 25 “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?”

They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, he will ask us why we didn’t believe John. 26 But if we say it was merely human, we’ll be mobbed because the people believe John was a prophet.” 27 So they finally replied, “We don’t know.”

And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.

(Mt 21:23-27)

I am now convinced that the older I get, the more Jesus' actions make sense to me! Mannnn! I can imagine how undermined the Son of God must have felt by this line of questioning. I think it's interesting how Jesus responds to these people and it seems to have something to do with the "why" behind their questions. Most times the teachers of the law were seeking to trip him so He often flipped their questions. No wonder He sometimes spoke in parables so they would have no idea what he was saying! But on the contrary, when the disciples asked him questions, He often spoke to them plainly- lessons that sometimes involved sharp rebukes.

I am learning the hard way that there are actually pigs (Ayaaaaah! I said it!). Yup. Pigs. Swine. (Okay Grace, enough!). Anyway, there are times when I shouldn't share my precious pearls with these pigs but I should guard them jealously. Help me God to know the difference.

Aint nobody got time for that!