These are the events that define you
I have had a bit of a trying week. Two days out of work with pneumonia after blowing a whole weekend sick and spending most of the week prior at week sick. Yup, I was a sick dude. I have had a few occasions to share my heart and mind about what has been going on at work, I have obliged some, but I know that one moment can truly define my entire work existence. This is true of any situation.
When Amy and I got married we were walking to our car to whisk away to the chalet for the evening (our first one as a married couple) we were met by 3 very drunk, very stupid men. One of them asked if he could kiss the bride, and before I knew it he laid one on her. He got a better kiss from her then I did at the altar, of course not by her choice. When that happened I had to make a very quick choice, knock the ever loving hell out of the guy, take the other two shrimps on and likely go to jail for my wedding night, or I could whisk her away and get the hell out of there. Luckily, I choose number 2. Had I not, that night would still define our marriage to this day. That was a defining event. Believe me I wanted to do #1. Had Amy not stopped me I probably would have.
When in the Ukraine in 2003 I had my first experience in a Yugo Taxi cab. Cramming me, (I am broad shouldered and wide bellied) and 3 other missionaries into a cab the size of a Ford Fiesta is interesting to say the least. One cab we went to catch reeked of vodka (as does much of the nation unfortunately) and I would not get into this cab and my mission leader was torked at me. We must stay together so one does not go, we all do not go. As he pulled away with his rider and we were waiting for a new one, he pulled in front of a military truck. Neither of them lived to know what happened. That was a defining moment in my life.
I could go on and on, but all this is to say that actions have consequences, sometimes serious ones, sometimes ones we do not see right away. I wanted to shoot of my opinion so very bad, I wanted to rock the boat because that is what I do. I have a preachers heart and I am not afraid of rocking the boat when the situation calls for it. Discretion is knowing when to rock the boat, and when to hold on for the ride.
Now, the situations I gave above are a little extreme, but it illustrates the point I am trying to make. Yes, ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES. If we learned that as little ones, as we all do, why can we not remember that as adults? Sure, mom is not waiting to take away my Oreo cookies for doing the wrong thing, but someone much greater, much more important than mom (I love you mom) is watching. Of course I mean God.
The word consequence only appears 8 times in the whole bible, all in the old testament, and all in relation to sin. Spouting off has consequences, and probably could be considered a sin.
Where am I going with this post, I do not know exactly. Sometimes it is good to speak up, follow your gut and make it happen. Be adamant. The bible is full of people who listened to God only and were adamant and mistreated and even killed for what they did. At some point you have to draw the proverbial line in the sand and say ENOUGH! Other times, most times, it serves to sit down, bite your tongue, cut it out if you must, and not go there.
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good words, carl. so many times the ancients & the heroes and heroines of our faith followed God in spite of what appeared to be most reasonable or logical. i don’t thing God is unreasonable or illogical of course, but i do think he EXCEEDS both those categories. our puny little brains just can’t understand Him. yet with our hearts, we can follow Him, even when it seems crazy.
So, are you going to tell us what is going on at work? What defining moment is leading you to writing?
Interesting similarity. On the way to our honeymoon, my bride and I, both 23, stopped at a restaurant. A couple of high school looking idiots made obscene faces at Jeanene. When I would turn around, they would stop and act like they weren’t doing anything. She was embarrassed and it rather ruined the meal.
I had a choice. I was an athlete and pretty strong. I could have stormed over there and demanded that they stop or else. Who knows whether they would have taken me up on the or else part. Had they, I suppose I would have been in a fight in the parking lot with a couple of locals in the small town.
Instead we chose to get up and leave. It was the right choice, but it bothers me even today. Sometimes I wish I could go back and do things differently. But that’s just weird male fantasy stuff. It was the right call to make. And I know it.
Sorry to hear about the pneumonia. But it seems to have brought out the preacher in you. : )