The other day my daughter had a relapse. A "dishonesty" relapse. Because she preferred to watch her favorite program on television rather than doing her math homework the previous Tuesday evening, she lied to her mother and me, telling us that she had already completed it. Following the honor system as we like to try to do, we accepted her at her word. Problematically for her, however, she has yet to grasp this "your grades are online in real time" concept (Thank goodness that did not exist when I was a kid!).
After I piled on (her mother had already scolded her thoroughly) in my own inimitable "coach-ly" fashion (unfortunately, this tends to be my primary response instinct), my daddy heartstrings soon began to tug at my conscience. I went up to her room and found her crying on her bed. She was upset that she had disappointed us. I hugged her and shared that growing up, and life in general for that matter, is all about making mistakes, learning from them, growing and moving on. As I often do, I reminded her that if, in making decisions, she always sought to make herself proud of her choices that she would most likely be making Mama and Daddy proud too.
Tsk-tsk-tsk. If only we could ever quit making mistakes ourselves. If only we always managed to practice what we preach. Now, just wouldn't that be a neat treat! Sadly, last night I found that my daughter's shoe was on the other foot...my foot.
Back in the fall, our pastor preached a series of sermons based upon the book, "The Bait of Satan". The premise of this spiritual guidebook for Christians is very simple. In his ongoing recruiting wars with God, Beelzebub uses "offense" as the primary bait to lure God's children astray. When people become offended by the words and actions of others, their tendency is to respond in a human way, the way of a sinner, rather than in the way that God's will would have them respond (you know, "turning the other cheek", "...peace, good will toward men"). When we behave and respond sinfully, ignoring God's word and will, we move away from God rather than closer to Him. In sum, the author contends that offense is Satan's primary and most effective weapon as he wages war with God for our hearts.
For those who know me, it is no great secret that I love my country and that I have a passion for The United States Constitution, conservative ideals, and politics. It is also no mystery that I believe that these are dark times for our country and that this Administration is purposefully attempting to "fundamentally transform" America in a way that will destroy its greatness an uniqueness. I make no apologies for possessing these feelings and opinions. I unabashedly stand by them, unwavering in my conviction, and in the spirit and of the Patriot founders of this great nation, I am unafraid to promulgate and defend them.
During the course of the last election cycle, I found my views frequently challenged by those with a differing perspective, the liberal Progressive perspective. Being challenged is fine. I have no problem discussing and debating ideology and policy. In fact, I quite enjoy it. On occasion, however, those challenging my values and positions moved the debate beyond civil and intellectual discourse to derision and insult, making things more personal than political. For the most part, though sometimes admittedly difficult, I tried to remain above the fray, preferring to stick to policy and civility instead of resorting to hurling epithets and vitriol in response.
Last night while on Facebook, I took Satan's bait. I lost my composure, my cool. I became irritated by what I perceived as close-mindedness. I became affronted by having my thoughts, not debated or argued, but instead attacked, assailed by someone to whom they were not even directed. In addition, I became frustrated with myself for, against my better judgement, maintaining in my circle of online friends someone with whom I have no real connection or bond, knew that I never really had a genuine affinity for, and have very little common ground and agreement. In sum, I became offended and insulted by my detractor and, simultaneously, pissed off with myself for not having severed our ties after we had tersely butted heads on previous occasions (in the spirit of "life's too short, so who needs the aggravation"). In terms of affect, his is not a good combination.
Caught up in the passion of offense and insult, I lashed out. I struck back in a personal way. While never a prude or a shrinking violet, I have always managed to just stand my ground intellectually, as I prefer, but this time, I hit below the belt. Though voicing a genuine sentiment (better kept to myself), I did so in a manner that was intentionally hurtful. Almost immediately, my conscience reined me back in. Neither my heart nor my head have enjoyed any peace since.
Despite perceptions of my online persona to the contrary, I was born with a good heart. Internally, I am a most sensitive person. More often than not, too sensitive. In addition to my affective genetics, I was raised by two of God's finest servants, a pair possessing two of sweetest hearts and spirits that this earth could possibly have ever known. And beyond these good-hearted roots, after spending most of my adult life as spiritually "homeless", of late I have been working to become a better man, trying to walk in the footsteps of the Lord rather than marching to my own drum. But at the drop of a hat (perhaps symbolism for an 'offense'), I took Satan's bait...just like that. Just like that, I turned my back on both my nature and nurture and, in the process, on God's way and will. It has caused me to have the most disconcerting, discombobulating, and disappointing feeling inside. It has caused me to feel small. Caused my heart to feel black. And I want these feelings to just go away.
Before my head finally met pillow last night, I emailed the person who, in my mind, started out as my "trespasser" and apologized to him for my "trespass" against him. I meant it. Deeply and sincerely. And hope that I effectively communicated that in the words that I chose.
I am not going to profess to understand the point of view and thought processes of people of the liberal persuasion. I don't, and I won't. They are, in my opinion, socially, economically, and politically wrongheaded. And in my mind, it's okay that I just don't get liberalism. But the perspective, the ideology, and the policy don't make the man...they don't speak necessarily to the heart or character of the person. Just as I hope that the visceral response of this imperfect person, this sinner, is not reflective of what is in my heart or the true content of my character.
I guess I could just pledge to be quiet from now on, to keep my political opining to myself. That would be a way to avoid offense and, in the process, to avoid responding inappropriately and hurtfully the way that I did, and don't want to again, to it. But I believe that this is part of the strategy of liberalism. Through eliciting pangs of conscience, or creating the threat of intimidation, or just the sheer weariness of emotional erosion , I believe that liberals hope to wear down the resistance of their opposition and silence them. Had our forefathers taken the silent, complacent, and compliant route, we may have never known the freedom that we have had the privilege of enjoying over the last two hundred and thirty years. So, I just can't see myself choosing silence when I see wrong in the world, especially the kind of wrong that might ultimately destroy that freedom for my children and their children.
More importantly than those considerations, however, is the fact that it is impossible for us to live life and avoid offense. Given the flaws and foibles of mankind, offense is both inevitable and ubiquitous. Accordingly, as I move forward in my own personal and spiritual journey, my task is not to try to avoid offense but instead to heed God's call, follow in His way, and obey His will in coping with it.
In other words, Satan will always be placing some cheese out there in the trap. Of mice and men? Seek to truly be a man (or woman, if applicable) in God's image. Try not to be a mouse.
After I piled on (her mother had already scolded her thoroughly) in my own inimitable "coach-ly" fashion (unfortunately, this tends to be my primary response instinct), my daddy heartstrings soon began to tug at my conscience. I went up to her room and found her crying on her bed. She was upset that she had disappointed us. I hugged her and shared that growing up, and life in general for that matter, is all about making mistakes, learning from them, growing and moving on. As I often do, I reminded her that if, in making decisions, she always sought to make herself proud of her choices that she would most likely be making Mama and Daddy proud too.
Tsk-tsk-tsk. If only we could ever quit making mistakes ourselves. If only we always managed to practice what we preach. Now, just wouldn't that be a neat treat! Sadly, last night I found that my daughter's shoe was on the other foot...my foot.
Back in the fall, our pastor preached a series of sermons based upon the book, "The Bait of Satan". The premise of this spiritual guidebook for Christians is very simple. In his ongoing recruiting wars with God, Beelzebub uses "offense" as the primary bait to lure God's children astray. When people become offended by the words and actions of others, their tendency is to respond in a human way, the way of a sinner, rather than in the way that God's will would have them respond (you know, "turning the other cheek", "...peace, good will toward men"). When we behave and respond sinfully, ignoring God's word and will, we move away from God rather than closer to Him. In sum, the author contends that offense is Satan's primary and most effective weapon as he wages war with God for our hearts.
For those who know me, it is no great secret that I love my country and that I have a passion for The United States Constitution, conservative ideals, and politics. It is also no mystery that I believe that these are dark times for our country and that this Administration is purposefully attempting to "fundamentally transform" America in a way that will destroy its greatness an uniqueness. I make no apologies for possessing these feelings and opinions. I unabashedly stand by them, unwavering in my conviction, and in the spirit and of the Patriot founders of this great nation, I am unafraid to promulgate and defend them.
During the course of the last election cycle, I found my views frequently challenged by those with a differing perspective, the liberal Progressive perspective. Being challenged is fine. I have no problem discussing and debating ideology and policy. In fact, I quite enjoy it. On occasion, however, those challenging my values and positions moved the debate beyond civil and intellectual discourse to derision and insult, making things more personal than political. For the most part, though sometimes admittedly difficult, I tried to remain above the fray, preferring to stick to policy and civility instead of resorting to hurling epithets and vitriol in response.
Last night while on Facebook, I took Satan's bait. I lost my composure, my cool. I became irritated by what I perceived as close-mindedness. I became affronted by having my thoughts, not debated or argued, but instead attacked, assailed by someone to whom they were not even directed. In addition, I became frustrated with myself for, against my better judgement, maintaining in my circle of online friends someone with whom I have no real connection or bond, knew that I never really had a genuine affinity for, and have very little common ground and agreement. In sum, I became offended and insulted by my detractor and, simultaneously, pissed off with myself for not having severed our ties after we had tersely butted heads on previous occasions (in the spirit of "life's too short, so who needs the aggravation"). In terms of affect, his is not a good combination.
Caught up in the passion of offense and insult, I lashed out. I struck back in a personal way. While never a prude or a shrinking violet, I have always managed to just stand my ground intellectually, as I prefer, but this time, I hit below the belt. Though voicing a genuine sentiment (better kept to myself), I did so in a manner that was intentionally hurtful. Almost immediately, my conscience reined me back in. Neither my heart nor my head have enjoyed any peace since.
Despite perceptions of my online persona to the contrary, I was born with a good heart. Internally, I am a most sensitive person. More often than not, too sensitive. In addition to my affective genetics, I was raised by two of God's finest servants, a pair possessing two of sweetest hearts and spirits that this earth could possibly have ever known. And beyond these good-hearted roots, after spending most of my adult life as spiritually "homeless", of late I have been working to become a better man, trying to walk in the footsteps of the Lord rather than marching to my own drum. But at the drop of a hat (perhaps symbolism for an 'offense'), I took Satan's bait...just like that. Just like that, I turned my back on both my nature and nurture and, in the process, on God's way and will. It has caused me to have the most disconcerting, discombobulating, and disappointing feeling inside. It has caused me to feel small. Caused my heart to feel black. And I want these feelings to just go away.
Before my head finally met pillow last night, I emailed the person who, in my mind, started out as my "trespasser" and apologized to him for my "trespass" against him. I meant it. Deeply and sincerely. And hope that I effectively communicated that in the words that I chose.
I am not going to profess to understand the point of view and thought processes of people of the liberal persuasion. I don't, and I won't. They are, in my opinion, socially, economically, and politically wrongheaded. And in my mind, it's okay that I just don't get liberalism. But the perspective, the ideology, and the policy don't make the man...they don't speak necessarily to the heart or character of the person. Just as I hope that the visceral response of this imperfect person, this sinner, is not reflective of what is in my heart or the true content of my character.
I guess I could just pledge to be quiet from now on, to keep my political opining to myself. That would be a way to avoid offense and, in the process, to avoid responding inappropriately and hurtfully the way that I did, and don't want to again, to it. But I believe that this is part of the strategy of liberalism. Through eliciting pangs of conscience, or creating the threat of intimidation, or just the sheer weariness of emotional erosion , I believe that liberals hope to wear down the resistance of their opposition and silence them. Had our forefathers taken the silent, complacent, and compliant route, we may have never known the freedom that we have had the privilege of enjoying over the last two hundred and thirty years. So, I just can't see myself choosing silence when I see wrong in the world, especially the kind of wrong that might ultimately destroy that freedom for my children and their children.
More importantly than those considerations, however, is the fact that it is impossible for us to live life and avoid offense. Given the flaws and foibles of mankind, offense is both inevitable and ubiquitous. Accordingly, as I move forward in my own personal and spiritual journey, my task is not to try to avoid offense but instead to heed God's call, follow in His way, and obey His will in coping with it.
In other words, Satan will always be placing some cheese out there in the trap. Of mice and men? Seek to truly be a man (or woman, if applicable) in God's image. Try not to be a mouse.
