Thursday Theology

A few years ago I came up with this thought that the further I got from religion, the closer I got to God. 
At that time, I never really considered that Jesus had become my religion, but I would now agree with this statement by Fr Richard Rohr:

By shifting my practice into following the teachings of Jesus and finding God in all things and in the people around me, I have also found the Christ in me. I don't know if it's because it is such a big shift in thinking or because I'm such a slow learner, but I still struggle with it on many days. 

I think I am more gracious than I used to be.
I think I am more compassionate than I used to be.
I think I am more patient than I used to be.
I might even be more loving than I used to be.

But then somebody says something or does something that pisses me off and I have to collect myself and remember that they are a part of God's creation and I am supposed to be gracious, compassionate, patient, and loving towards them, too.
The struggle is real.
The transformation is slow.

It's only December 5th and I'm already thinking this Advent challenge of mine is going to be too difficult to maintain until Christmas. Most of the difficulty comes from the fact that I just don't interact with people as often as most. I did have several good people interactions yesterday and am thinking I might give myself a pass today and just stay home. I have plenty to eat and drink and I really don't have anything important that needs to be done that requires me to venture out.
And I have library books that need to be read before their due date.

Maybe today will be one of those days when the kind thing that I do will be to stay away from people. 

How does your religion or life philosophy guide you to deal with people?
I really want to know.

John