Be Easy

Over the eight months of serving my church as a deacon, I have picked up a reputation as the peacemaker and a problem-solver. Because I am still in the learning stages (in truth, we all should always remain students – the instant we stop learning is when we stop living) of the real work, I am having to accept the limitations and ailments of the ministry at hand:  Not everyone is happy to see me, and with one untimely move, I risk the brunt of a tirade. Please believe I’ve laid on some grenades in my day, even when I thought I was right and could not be told otherwise. Rather than sow the seeds of discontent and associated bad behavior, Ephesians 4:2 tells us to be gentle.

Always be humble and gentle. Patiently put up with each other and love each other. Ephesians 4:2

Back in 2003 before he took on more of an activist role, the rapper T.I. told us to “Be Easy” from his second album Trap Muzik. This is the same principle; just because we are supposed to be completely humble and gentle does not mean lay down and become a softie as many of us think – and sometimes act – upon our impulses to the detriment of Kingdom building. All being loud does is make a mockery of what we do and/or what we proclaim to promote. Being gentle shows a gratitude for the smallest service rendered and tolerance for the pains in the hiney who do not serve us well. It puts up with the boisterous and bothersome citizens; for kindness to children is a crowning mark of a good and humble servant. In other words, be easy or it’ll be a long day.

Years ago when my fraternity visited Central Elementary School to read to the students, my friend Shannon reminded me to not get frustrated when they would squirm around on the floor during circle time or if they chose to ignore our instructions during center time as this was likely the freest they would feel before their parents/grandparents/guardians would pick them up. After I observed the Arkadelphia native navigate through fifteen children without ever raising her voice, I noticed that even in the most tenuous moments of stress they were laser-focused on the three adults in the room as they took behavioral cues from us. Sometimes we would speak softly, and sometimes a calm silence to the occasional mean word was the best response:  Bullying went winless when we came over from Henderson State those afternoons.

Remember Jesus is gentle and humble in heart, and if we ask Him, He will recreate us in His image.