A Purple Nutty
I think everyone does some personal introspection from time to time and takes “inventory” of who they are and maybe we see some things that we wish we did better or habits we would like to change. Maybe we run into someone that was really impressive and we think about ways we might mirror their ways of living. We may question ourselves on the way we react to our world and the people we encounter.
If we are people of faith there is also that standard to consider. Even though the Bible discusses at length and in great detail how God cares more about the inside (our hearts) rather than the outside (our flesh), we still get overly concerned about what others see rather than what is most important.
In one of my sessions of self-appraisal, I noted a few things that I have seemed to struggle with most of my life. If I’m being honest (and I’m trying to), it is not always easy to look in the mirror and admit that these traits, habits, character flaws, failures are a “big deal.” But they are. We spend our entire lives trying to be the best version of ourselves that we can be.
This is accomplished and influenced through a myriad of experiences including: how we were raised, the friends we connect with (and ones that we don’t), social norms, education, peer pressure, faith, travel, reading, retreats, counseling, coaching, and many more. It ebbs and flows depending on what we think is the most important at a given time.
One of my life-long struggles has been my temper and the corresponding way I deal with things that get me angry. Growing up my dad had a short fuse and could go into a rage in a New York minute while my mom never seemed to get angry, ever. In both of my parents’ homes it was very similar, the guys were easier to react angrily while the ladies were seemingly under control and kept their emotions intact.
In the Bible, the apostle Paul in a letter to the Galatians defines what the “Fruit of the Spirit” is and how we can see it in others. These traits are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control. The more we see these in a person, the more they are living in the Spirit. Ouch.
In my life, I have tried a number of things to keep the famous “Rutledge temper” under some “control.” If you talk with people who have known me for some time, they will tell you, they have seen it. I do not wear it like a medal, and it is embarrassing and discouraging at times. I see it in other members of the family and we all can give each other a knowing nod when it goes off in one of us. We ALL have stories. When I would get that mad it takes two to three days to forgive myself and return back to the planet.
During my teen years I had sports to help me get that angst out. I could get on a field and go a little gaga for a few hours and it seemed to help. As I got older, I got convicted from reading the Bible and hearing sermons and tried to do better. Michelle was always helpful and could give me the “look” and I would normally calm down…Normally. As I became a father and a leader in different areas I worked hard and prayed harder for help to not throw a “nutty.” I’m sure you have all seen a nutty before. It’s when someone just totally loses it. Their face goes to red, RED, and REDDDDDD. The tone in the voice jacks up and some slobber may get ejected like a pilot from a fighter jet. Think, old time umpire and baseball manager arguments back in the day.
Today’s blog will let you in on a time I took the nutty to the Purple Nutty level and the immediate payback I received from letting my emotions get the better of me. God really does have a great sense of humor.
But First…A Joke:
A wife was making fried eggs for breakfast. Suddenly, her husband burst into the kitchen. “Careful,” he said. “Careful! Add some more butter! My gosh! You’re cooking too many at once. Too many! Turn them! Turn them now!! We need more butter. Oh dear! They’re going to stick! Careful. I said be careful! You never listen to me when you’re cooking! NEVER! Turn them! Hurry! Are you crazy? Have you lost your mind? Don’t forget to salt them. You know you always forget to salt them. Use the salt. USE THE SALT!”
The wife glares at her husband. “What in the world is going on with you? You think I don’t know how to fry some eggs?”
The husband replied, “I just wanted to show you what it feels like when I’m driving.”
He woke up three days later in the hospital.
Bonus Dad Joke:
What do you call a French guy who wears cheap sandals?
Phillippe Phillope.
A Verse to Contemplate:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” - Isiah 55:8-9
Have I Told You This One?
I was mowing my grass one Fall, and I was pretty sure that this would be the last one of the season. I had this banged up lawnmower that literally was on its last legs and I was trying to get one last mow out of it and then it was going to take a walk across the lawnmower rainbow bridge and a new model would take its place the next Spring.
Unfortunately for me I had been traveling for work and the grass was higher than normal and it was harder to mow. So, I have this piece of crap (“POC”) mower that is burning oil and struggling to keep going. I’m pulling the choke and doing any other trick I know to finish the lawn. In the front yard, it keeps cutting out and then I have to stop and pull the starter rope again, mow about 10 feet, repeat, repeat, repeat. I can feel my blood pressure staring to spike, but I knew it was not going to be easy and I was hoping to get just one last mow out of her. It takes three times as long, but I get the front yard done. I take a break, drink a Coke and psych myself up to take on the back yard.
The same process continues in the back yard but thankfully my back yard is smaller, and I have some woods and a creek in the back. I can almost see the finish line through the fog of smoke that keeps billowing out of the POC mower. I soldier on and get down to the last strip of grass and as I start that last strip the rear tire on the right side just falls off and then the mower stalls again for the 75th time.
That’s it!!! The Purple Nutty hits and I pick up the mower and in my best Olympic hammer throw technique I spin around about four times, and I launch that POC into the woods (I may have shouted some naughty words as well). That sucker went DEEP into the woods! As I was admiring my new world record lawn mower toss, I suddenly feel like I’m being watched (because I was). Michelle was on our deck giving me the “look” and trying not to laugh and asked me, “Do you feel better now?” I wasn’t sure how to answer her. It did feel great, but I don’t think that was the answer she was looking for. When the purple drained out of my face, I also noticed that my neighbor was on his deck and had also taken in my exhibition of strength and stupidity and he asked, “You need some help getting that mower out of the woods?” He, of course, was quite impressed on the height and distance I achieved and was just trying to be helpful as he had videoed the whole thing on his phone. I replied, “No, but thanks!” He did not try and hide his laughter.
It took me a minute to dig that POC out of the woods and now I had an issue. I have about ten feet of the last strip to go and my mower doesn’t have a back right wheel and the handles are bent to hell. Michelle now has some lemonade and a sandwich and is watching the Rutledge Freak Show going on in the back yard. So, I start it back up, the smoke is twice as bad, and it is like pushing a one-legged crab across the grass. It literally took me twenty minutes to do the last ten feet but there was no way I was going to be denied. As soon as I finished that strip, I had to go on a walk to calm down. I think I made it to Chattanooga before I realized where I was.
Every time the neighbor and I happen to be mowing our yards at the same time, he always makes sure to let me know that he is available if I need ANY help.
I told this story to my friends that we were in a small group with and for Christmas that year they had a t-shirt made for me with an Olympic hammer thrower launching a lawn mower. It is one of my prized possessions.
The moral of the story?
Make sure no one is watching before you chuck a POC mower into your woods!
A Prayer:
Heavenly Father, saturate me in Your goodness all the days of my life. Renew my mind when I question Your goodness because of my circumstances. You are my refuge and strength. Keep my eyes focused on your faithfulness.
Book Recommendation:
Louder Than Words (The Power of Uncompromised Living) by Andy Stanley (2004)
Music Recommendation:
My Favorite Headache by Geddy Lee (2000)