Am I asking too much?

I’m at Starbucks, wasting my money and supposedly doing my lesson plans. I’ve been distracted by a number of things, not the least and most disturbing of which was a girl who walked in wearing only underwear. Ok, I exaggerate, but she was wearing a thin tank top, revealing … a lot, and a little pair of shorts that were practically underwear. She was going for maximum exposure. And there was a man sitting near me who was clearly captivated. And I gave him some sympathy – I mean, when she stepped out, she knew her ensemble was an attention grabber. But the sympathy ended when the man made no attempt to look away. He just kept looking back with absolutely no shame. He would look at his computer, then look back and stare at her panty. And I was getting annoyed – but not sure where to direct my disapproval.

I’m still not sure. I mean, I believe it’s justified disapproval (righteous indignation, if you will) because what really distressed me was the blatant lust neither of them made any attempt to conceal: his for her body, her for the attention. How do I know this was her desire? Trust me, I’m a woman. I know how we do. We deceive ourselves with thinly veiled justifications like – “oh it’s just so hot, that’s why I can’t wear any clothes today. Or, oh I just like looking good when I go out. I work hard to get this body. It makes me feel good about myself. That’s all”. Whatever. The heart of man – and woman—is desperately wicked. Do we even know what lurks down there? Hmph.

I do think this kind of thing should distress us a Christ followers – but usually my distress morphs into judgment and cussing people out silently. Then I have to repent. And then I have to pray for them. In the end, they’re both victims. I was wondering about that man, thinking, can he even stop himself? I’m not a man, but I can imagine it must be excruciatingly difficult for some men not to look at have naked women. I wanted to ask him, “I’ve noticed you stare at the backside of every woman who walks in the door. Do you feel you have no control over the gaze of your eyes and the impulses of your body? Would you like to learn how you can master your flesh rather than it mastering you?” But I knew that wouldn’t go over well. So instead I brooded about it. But isn’t that it, after all? The flesh indeed is a beast. What choice does this man have? Am I asking too much to expect him to exert some control? Maybe.

Then I thought about the men I do know, the ones with integrity, ones like my own biological brother and numerable other brothers in the Faith who’ve made a covenant with their eyes like Job not to look lustfully on a young lady. Their number one allegiance is not to their flesh but to their God. They are not controlled by their bodies but by the indwelling Holy Spirit. I like them. We need more of them around. Instead of cussing them out when a scantily clad lady passes, I am sooo happy b/c I notice how they deliberately won’t even look in her direction. That’s what I like; it makes me want to dance around, or throw them a parade, some kind of celebration in their honor.

So it’s not too much to ask. It’s very possible… for the redeemed. We need more of them, good men. Men who’ve met the Master.

And maybe we should introduce Him to the unacquainted.