Finding the Right Words

The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?"

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them… - Acts 4: 5-8

Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 10-11; Acts 4: 1-22

One day when I was about 10 years old my family and I went to the Slauson Swap Meet after church service at Crenshaw Christian Center. This was the early 90s, the same LA that was so artfully displayed in Boyz N the Hood was in full effect.

That movie was real as steel by the way.

Anyways, I’m a suburban kid bumbling around the swap meet

but I didn’t have to be from the hood to know the rules of the game. You never wore blue or red and British Knights and bandanas were also completely out of the question.

So there I was at the swap meet in my neutral colored gear walking around looking at all of the random things to buy. Oblivious to my surroundings as I looked at all of the goodies I stepped on something. When I looked down to see what was under my foot I saw all red…

Uh oh… pristine red sneakers with a horrid scuff mark matching the black soles of my kicks…

Hopefully, I panned up the leg to see if the situation would improve but nope… red pants.

Damn…

Then a red shirt, and red hat!!! I was face to face with a Blood…

Not a good look for a taller than his age 10 year old such as myself. I was hella scared! Stepping on someone’s fresh kicks was a crime worthy of severe punishment. And that held true in suburbia! For all I knew old buddy had killed for less (aww the mind of a suburban 10 year old… but don’t front like I wasn’t at least partially on point.)

I had no idea what to say or do. Then I remember thinking… just say sorry.

So I gave my sincerest apologies… the most sincere apologies I may have ever given in my life and dude was hella cool! He was like “it’s alright little man” and then he kept on pushin’.

Good grief.

Sometimes we are in situations where we don’t know what to say. Maybe we have to address a large crowd or have an important conversation with a loved one to resolve conflict. But when we are in those difficult places where we don’t know what to say it’s always good to remember to stop for a second, take a breath, and listen to your heart and spirit.

The right words will come.