In almost any given situation, you are going to instinctually know just how to react emotionally, both inwardly and outwardly.
If someone gets injured, you feel empathy for them and want to help.
If someone sticks out their tongue, you’re probably going to chuckle just a little bit.
If someone is walking around with a brand new puppy, you trade in your jealousy in the hope that you’ll get to pet it for a minute or two.
But there’s one situation where there is just no right answer. A couple years ago, my wife and I were going for a casual morning stroll, when on the way home she walked right into a garden spider’s web.
Garden spiders are completely harmless, but they are also completely creepy looking, you know, just like almost every spider ever.
Everything inside me wanted to laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh and, well, you get the idea.
Everything outside of me realized that doing that would result in me getting grounded. By grounded I mean she probably would have knocked me out.
Eventually and instantly, though, I had to react one way or another.
How did I react? I have no idea, so I’m going to pretend that I did the right thing.
How should I have reacted? The exact same way she reacted: A slight panic, sharply increased disgust and eventual laughter.
Why? The Bible says to do that, duh!
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
Romans 12: 15 (NKJV)
This all ties into treating people how you would want to be treated.
If you’re scared, you want people to be scared for you, not mock you as you flail your arms.
If you find yourself in a funny situation, you don’t want people making you feel all awkward by over worrying either.
So if you see someone else in a tragedy/comedy situation, react how they react and then you can all laugh about it later on with some ice cream.
How would you have reacted in this situation?
