ManageYourEmotionsBook8.5x5.5_RevJULY.indd

records their discontent. Growing tired of the manna that God provided and remembering the good food they enjoyed in Egypt, the people cried out for meat (see Numbers 11). God eventually met that request with quail, but then sent a deadly plague among the people. Though the punishment may seem severe for the crime, it’s a sure indication of just how seriously God takes our attitudes. Disgruntlement is contagious, spreading from one, to a few, to the masses. If not nipped in the bud, it often leads to increasingly nega- tive conduct, as indicated below. Destructive behavior. Again, the Children of Israel come to mind.Tired of waiting while Moses was on Mt. Sinai receiving instructions for theTabernacle, they took their jewelry and fashioned for themselves a golden calf which then became an object of wor- ship. (see Exodus 32). Recall David’s aforementioned sexual tryst with Bathsheba. In the spring of the year, when kings would normally be engaged in war, he was hanging out on the roof of his palace. Had he slipped into a state of boredom, spotting beautiful Bathsheba bathing below? After sending for her and committing adultery, he sank deeper into sin by arranging the death of Bathsheba’s husband. Consider the stereotypical young teen who is out of school and home alone -- no job, no motivation, and bored to death – the perfect recipe for trouble. So he/she connects with like-minded friends to engage in neighborhood vandalism –just for kicks. Next thing you know, they’re stealing, taking and selling drugs, and com- mitting violent crimes. Take for example the August, 2013 murder of Christopher Lane, a 22-year old Australian who came to Oklahoma to play col- lege baseball. He was shot while jogging during a visit to his girl- friend in Duncan, OK. One of the three teenagers held in the case told the police the suspects were “bored and didn’t have anything to do, so we decided to kill somebody.” 73

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