Social Graces

“Anti Social? Am not!” was my vehement retort.

I am not anti-social…I am just not social. I’ve got nothing against being social, I am just not social.

I’m not social because I possess none of the skills required to be social. My upbringing had no courses in the social graces. I am a product of my environment.

“You just don’t care” she said. “No I do care” I just can’t remember anyone’s name. My memory is full…I think it filled up in 8th grade. It is full of all those important facts like…Pi equals 3.14167384627891, the capital of Montana is Butte, an equilateral triangle has three equal legs and the first president of the United States was Abraham Lincoln.

I do care about people…besides it’s a requirement. It’s one of the two greatest commandments Jesus taught us. “Love thy neighbor as thy self.”

Now, Jesus didn’t say I had to like everybody nor what they do. Besides people scare me, they ask such personal questions like, “How are you?” I panic and think I have to have an answer. When will I learn all I have to say is, “thank you for asking and how are you?”

Maybe this is a humility thing. Perhaps I need to think less about myself as opposed to thinking less of myself. Yep! It’s usually my pride that gets me in trouble.


Dear Jesus:
Help me swallow my pride,
Help me re-evaluate what is important,
Help me clear my memory of all the useless information,
For this I pray.
Amen


4/12/2008