The new Sound of Music musical, featuring Carrie Underwood as the governess Maria, has not been altogether well received by the critics. In response to the critics’ cutting remarks, Underwood responds, “Mean people need Jesus,” and adds about her critics, “They will be in my prayers tonight.” She cites 1 Peter 2:1-25, a passage that commands us to “rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.”
I don’t know if the critics’ remarks were warranted or not, but Underwood got this part right: mean people do need the Lord, as do selfish, and thoughtless ones and we need to make sure we don’t hold onto malicious thoughts about others. That’s what I thought as the driver in front of me threw up her arms in disgust at the driver in front of her. I was thinking what a good reminder this was for me to be more patient and forgiving when I am confronted with the faux pas of another driver. I too have been there. We all need the Lord, don’t we? And we all need to find patience and forbearance in others when we act less than perfectly, especially in this season where love, joy, and peace should be our character.
People need the Lord. As much as is possible, let’s show Him to others in our path today.
