Don’t Let Crazy People Drive You Crazy

I recently heard someone opine that he thought that 15 percent of people are bad, 50 percent misguided, and 35 percent were good. Now whether you agree with that number or not, you must admit that there are some crazy people in this world. When I talk about crazy, I’m not talking about people with organic mental issues. Crazy is a term reserved for those who can do better but don’t. I believe some people who act crazy are demonically influenced. Now you may think I am crazy.

I am not a psychologist, but my life’s work has been in the people business from being an educator to a Christian minister. Furthermore, I think of myself as a somewhat positive person because I usually reserve an ounce of hope for everyone regardless of their craziness.

The truth of the matter is, everyone can change but not everyone will or want to change for the good.

Jesus in His parable of the sower compared people to four types of ground where His seed (the Word) was sown.

First was the hard packed walkway where the seeds fell but the birds quickly gobbled up the strown seed before they had a chance to grow.

The second example was the stony ground where the soil was shallow, and the seeds quickly sprouted but also quickly wilted for lack of depth.

Thirdly was the ground covered with thorns (weeds) and the plants were choked out.

Finally, the seed sown on good ground sprouted, grew, and bore a bountiful harvest. (Read the parable in Matthew 13:3-9 and Jesus’s explanation in the following verses 18-23.)

In Jesus’s parable, one fourth of the soil was a good medium for results. We should not make too much of the percentage here as Jesus was just explaining four types of conditions. If you pick apart a parable too much you miss the main point it seeks to reveal. Not everyone will bear good fruit.

Prison reforms will help some people, but some will continue in a crime filled lifestyle. Drug rehab programs will help some people, but some will live a tortured life in their addiction. Counselors will help some folks, but some will go home just as disturbed as they came. Citizens close their eyes and continue to allow tyrants to oppress their lives. Churches preach the Gospel in the power of the Spirit and Word but, sad to say, many people will never really believe, repent, and change. It appears for some strange reason that some people prefer to live in craziness.

In Luke chapter 15, Jesus shared three parables of lostness. The first parable told of a lost sheep where the shepherd left the ninety-nine to seek the one that was lost. It is important to note the one wandered away, it did not run away. He was just nibbling on the grass and suddenly he was alone. The shepherd left the ninety-nine to search for the one. Some people just graze and instead of gaze, so the don’t look up until they are lost.

The second parable tells of a lost coin that was one of ten owned by a woman. She misplaced the coin in the house and swept the house from one end to the other to find the misplaced coin. The coin did not hide but it was misplaced. Some folks get lost in the shuffle of life.

The third parable is about a man who had two sons. The youngest became arrogant and rebellious (perhaps crazed by his own self-importance). He demanded his inheritance so he could do his own thing. He left home with wealth, wasted it, and took a slave-wage job of feeding pigs. Notice his father did not pursue him but allowed him to come to the end of his arrogance. Once the prodigal son returned in humility the father graciously welcomed him back. Some people think they know more than they really know. Here in the south, the old-timers had a saying, “He has gotten too big for his britches.”

The lesson: search for lost sheep, look for misplaced coins, but let rebellious prodigals find their way back or live with the craziness of the pigs. Remember, the prodigal’s father never sought him or tried to change his mind after he left. Never reason with the back of someone’s head.

People who think they know it all cannot be taught. People who think they are God’s gift to the world, cannot be led. People who think they are good enough will not change. People who think they have God all figured out, don’t really know God. People will trip over their trashed integrity as they polish their image.

Don’t let crazy people drive you crazy. I have only kept a semblance of sanity by trying to do my best and then let the loose ends drag. Spend the most energy with those who will weep over your grave.

“A wise man fears and departs from evil, But a fool rages and is self-confident” (Proverbs 14:16 NKJV).

Yours on the Journey,

Harry L. Whitt