November 25, 2001

A boy was going door to door in his neighborhood collecting old bottles to raise some money. He came to the home of a woman known to be the town grouch. When she came to the door the boy asked if she had any soda bottles. In a very rough voice she snapped, "NO!" The boy then asked if she had any whiskey bottles. "Young man, do I look like a person who would have old whiskey bottles?" The boy studied her for a moment and said "No ma'am. But I bet you have a lot of old vinegar bottles."

As much as we would like the world to be filled with loving, caring, and compassionate people, the truth is that it has its share of vinegar people. Rare is the life that has not had a few cross its path.

Elizabeth Kenney, the nurse famous for her development of polio treatment, was once asked how she managed to maintain such a cheerful countenance and disposition. She responded that as a young child she would often lose her temper and get angry and upset because of the way other children were behaving. One day her mother told her something that she had not forgotten: "Anyone who angers you, conquers you!" She became aware that she must not allow other people's behavior and demeanor to dictate and influence hers.

The late Bernard Baruch was asked if he was ever disturbed by the venom of his enemies. He replied, "No person can upset me or disturb me or humiliate me. I won't let them!" We can't let vinegar people sour us, we can't let them cause us to spew vinegar as well, we can't let them conquer us by infecting us.

Jesus was well aware of vinegar people. The good he was doing, the positive things he was responsible for, the way he attracted the attention and devotion of so many who hung on his every word, did not sit too well with the vinegar people. They accused him constantly. Ultimately, the Gospel story tells us, they were able to gather support for his crucifixion. To the end, as evidenced by his exchange with the repentant thief, he stayed the course of goodness and kindness and love.

SO THE QUESTION: IN WHAT WAYS MIGHT WE PREVENT VINEGAR PEOPLE FROM INFECTING US?

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