When I was a student, seat assignments for basketball tickets at the University of Missouri came available on a certain evening in the fall. The first in line got the best seats. But the location was kept secret lest fans camp out days ahead (Mizzou was a top 10 program at the time). Mad for college basketball, I prepared to race across campus.

However, my roommate assured me that he had an inside track on the location. I was to wait in our room (no mobile phones at that time) until he called. Then I could run straight to the ticketing location and be one of the first in line.

The evening arrived and students started searching the campus. I heard a rumor of the location, so I split. Bad decision. The news was wrong, and as a result I missed my roommate’s call. Due to my lack of nerve, I spent the season in the upper deck. I needed a cooler head in the moment.

One gentleman in Scripture showed a cool head in a ridiculous situation. Paul preached in Ephesus and so many people converted that the local silver trade took a major hit. New followers of Jesus no longer purchased idols of Artemis, the local deity. The silversmiths started a riot that consumed the city (economics and devotion to Jesus don’t always go hand in hand). I love the description of the scene: Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together.

The mob didn’t know why they were there, only that something rowdy was going to happen and they wanted in (sort of like my days at Mizzou). In their midst stepped the town clerk. We don’t know his name, or if he was a follower of Jesus, but this city leader showed hutzpah. He quieted the crowd, pointed out that no law had been broken, and reminded them of the harsh punishment Roman authorities dealt out to rioters. Amazingly, he dismissed the assembly like they’d come together for a town hall meeting, and they all filed out.

A cooler head prevailed. A wonder in Ephesus, and a breath of fresh air in our day as well. I’m reminded to pray for our leaders, for calm hearts and wise decisions. Our world is a better place when cooler heads are in charge.

Acts 19:21-41

Photo by Samuel Regan-Asante