misunderstood.

I had two encounters today that both thouroughly bothered me. In the first encounter it felt as though I was made out to be "over- reacting" or exaggerating or something along those lines... but really, I wasn't trying to do that. I was actually expressing genuine concern for the person who was complaining... but then after I tried to speak up in her behalf and the authority figured addressed it with her, she basically laughed at me and said I misunderstood her. I was so confused- because although perhaps I did misunderstand her, now I'm wondering if she misunderstood me.

Later this same day this same woman made a very racially charged comment to me. The part that was so deeply painful to me was the fact that she assumed I would have naturally agreed with her extermely bigeted, ignorant and racist comment. I was so appalled - anger was boiling up inside of me but I knew that wouldn't get me anywhere. I felt helpless- it sucked. How to fight this shniza in a professional world...its so exhausting.

Yet as I was processing these two events later this evening I thought about my savior... How misunderstood he must have been. He was misunderstood- but he didn't have a need to prove himself, because it didn't matter to him- He knew who he was.

I suppose that naturally as a Christ follower I approach most situations in life already at odds- ready to be misunderstood.

What is it in me that wrestles with this emotion?