Haters.

"They are waterless clouds carried along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the deepest darkness has been reserved forever."

(Jude 12b-13)

"Haters." That's what they're called today. But they've been around for eons. (Definitely since Biblical times!) They are those people who annoy, irritate, attack (usually verbally), and attempt to disrupt others' lives. The author of the Book of Jude even comments that "these people slander whatever they do not understand."

We all know people like that, don't we? People who "push our buttons" or "get under our skin". The question is: how will we react? Will we lash out? Fight back (either verbally or otherwise)? Retreat? Jude calls us to avoid them altogether, if possible. But there was something else the author said that caused me to pause.

In describing the haters, the author of Jude uses 4 very descriptive images. Four rather stark and descriptive images:

• waterless clouds (carried along by the winds)...

• autumn trees w/o fruit ("twice dead and uprooted")...

• wild waves of the sea (w/ the foam of their shame)...

• wandering stars (in deepest darkness)...

At first, I wanted to shout a hearty, "AMEN! Preach it!" at the spot-on descriptions of those people. But a few weeks ago I heard Dr. Frank Rogers (professor at Claremont School of Theology) talk about PRACTICING COMPASSION, and how we should seek to understand a person's pain and hurt behind those with whom we interact (especially those who push our buttons!). This caused me to reconsider these "haters."

"Waterless clouds" are without purpose. The clouds that bring rain help water the earth and provide growth. Yet the clouds in Jude are simply blown two and fro without direction and purpose. How frustrating to be a person who's life is like this! "Autumn trees" should be RIPE with fruit! I just bought a 1/2 bushel case of fresh apples from the mountains of Tehachapi (yum!). I look forward to that every year! How sad to find autumn trees without fruit. Jude calls them "twice dead, uprooted." These people have no produced any value in their lives for years. "Wild waves" lead to unsafe sailing. The "foam of their own shame" froths here and there, providing no comfort. The drama of the lives of these people repeatedly remind themselves of their shameful deeds and past history. And finally, "wandering stars" reserved for the "deepest darkness" are not only lonely, but isolated. Forever alone.

I can't imagine living a life with ANY of these characteristics. Life was meant to be filled with community joy and love. How sad it must be to be a "hater." Lord, help me to find compassion for those who feel their only way of relating to others is through "hating." And help them to change for the better. AMEN.