What Do You Hope To Achieve?

“Why did you do that?”

“I just needed to get that off my chest. They needed to know how I felt.”

“But what has that done for you?”

“Well, they know how I feel now, there’s no doubt about that.”

“Yeah, there’s no doubt about that, for sure. But what do you think that’s done?”

“I was sending a message. They needed to get the message.”

“They have definitely received that message. I wouldn’t like to be in your position when you get the response.”

“Wh … wh … what do you mean?”

“You wanted to make a statement. You wanted to send a message. I’m just not sure you really thought through what you wanted to achieve. I do know that they have received that message as we’ve all heard that message and whereas you wanted to get something off your chest, you probably forgot that they can get you off the wage bill.”

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What did you hope to achieve? Was it worthwhile? Was it something that would genuinely contribute to a peaceful and harmonious outcome? Is your grievance worth venting your frustrations in a way that brings disruption and not in a manner to bring about reparation?

We let off steam and get the ranting out there and once that is done we will have to face the consequences of that. Even if it appears that we get our way in the short term, the long term sets a precedent of unruly disruption that others can apply just because we have done the same.

It’s easy to mention this in hindsight or in the comfort of being nowhere near the incident. It’s harder to remember this in the heat of offence and hurt. It’s tough to bring this to mind when the sense of betrayal is strong and it feels like the last straw has broken the camel’s back on the situation.

This is why we remember who we are and whose we are. We do not have the luxury of self-gratification and self-justification for exploding at the pain. We do not represent ourselves anymore. We have been redeemed to be representatives of the One who bore significant injustice and referred to the Father for forgiveness, mercy and justice. We know what it’s like to deserve punishment and receive grace instead. We belong to that wisdom that lets us think before we act and act in a way that reflects the Prince of Peace rather than pathetic self-indulgence.

This is why we need His Spirit.

(Photo by Jonathan Farber on Unsplash)

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C. L. J. Dryden