people are crazy

Today in the One Year Bible, we read from Judges 9:22-10:18. The people are getting along pretty well, but then suddenly they get all upset about who is worshiping whose god even though they don't live there, and they all get mad at each other. The Bible says that God sent a spirit to stir them up, and maybe that's true. Sometimes the Old Testament can be a little anthropomorphic in the way it sees God. But even so, we know enough about people to know that they can get stirred up all on their own.

And that's one thing I've learned in life: to expect people to go crazy and do stupid things. It used to really bother me. Even when reading the Bible, I'd be arguing with the people in the story. "Stop doing that!" I'd yell at them. "Just be peaceful! Stop doing those evil things!" But they never listened.

And they don't listen in our lives, either. People are GOING to go crazy and do stupid things. Like hoard toilet paper! So you should expect it. If you EXPECT people to go crazy and do stupid things, you can plan accordingly. And then when they DO it, you're ready, and your plans can move ahead.

God, thanks for teaching us that people go crazy and do stupid things. Help us plan accordingly.