Impulses

Yesterday I watched my son bop a friend's son's head all afternoon with a plastic toy. James, at 19 months, is able to act on his impulses and not yet able to control them. That explanation didn't suit 8 month-old Nebo, who looked bruised and befuddled by this strange bigger kid who kept whapping him without cause.

Acting on impulses without being able to control them. Hm. Sounds like the great struggle of adulthood, too. And the great struggle of the religious life.

In ministry, I am constantly confronted with human situations that confuse and threaten me. People who don't conform to my worldview. People who challenge what I say or do as a pastor. People who find happiness in things different than what I find happiness in. People whose religious goals and ends are vastly different than my own.

I find myself quite often in situations where, confronted with someone or something that confuses me, I just want to bop them on the head. I want someone to go away, or stop being "a problem" for me, or I want them to just see the wisdom in my way of doing things.

Can I control my impulses? Can I not find threats threatening? Can I turn the other cheek? Can I walk the second mile? Can I give my inner garment at will when the outer one is taken by force? Can I love my enemy?

Or do I bop them on the head?