Fight or Flight?

Okay, I was ready to write "ALRIGHT! The gloves are coming off!" but realized there wasn't any fight going on. Besides, I like the idea of my knuckles staying somewhat intact in a conflict and don't relish dragging jigsaw-ed hands home after a scuffle. Again, however, there is no scuffle, no minor battle, and no aggression on the eastern shoreline. Everything is "okay" for the moment.

I got to thinking about this a little bit and how I've been reacting to things going on in our lives. Ebola and the toll it's taking on Western Africa, ISIS (and what they are doing to children), our government’s limp-wristed reactions to national security concerns, and obviously two little Sierra Leone-ian children who have become entrenched in our hearts. There are actually more than two over there who have made an impact on us, but we currently are looking at two specifically.

Yesterday came news of a little girl’s death in Sierra Leone. Not the first, and definitely not the last; but she was the first to touch my wife’s heart and leave us here on earth. I never got to meet her, but listening to Kristie tell me, through tears, of this child’s haunted eyes; how she tried to make her smile; how she painted her nails and talked about exquisite eyes too old to be a part of this small child. I don’t know too many details and don’t want to guess, but the impression I’ve gotten is she was mistakenly diagnosed with Ebola and ended up dying for lack of treatment.

I’ve always considered myself rather passive. I mean, my sense of humor can be a bit unexpected at times, or even unintentionally harsh (alright, sometimes it’s intentional), but I’ve never been one to start a fight (unless it was with one of my younger brothers), and certainly never been one to go looking for a fight. In fact, I hate conflict, and would be the first to step away and try to find a resource to resolve any issue I foresee.

With that in mind, however, I can look back on a few occasions where I was willing to stand up to someone or some situation if I felt the cause worthy enough; even if it threatened my physical well-being. I don’t write this with some sense of pride; there’s nothing to be proud of when allowing conflict to enter your world. But I do recognize I’m not quite the coward I always assumed I was. When I feel that someone around me is threatened, or even when I feel cornered, I am willing – indeed likely – to strike back.

It’s this need to fight, as opposed to flight, which has also gotten me into some trouble. I won’t bore you with stories, but hence to say it isn’t always comfortable doing what you think is right… especially when you realize you might have been wrong. But even when you can look back on a situation and still decide what you did was righteous (not self-righteous, mind you), the outcome sometimes is extremely painful.

This reminds me of a favorite Bible phrase I see tossed around: Jeremiah 29:11.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (NIV)

I’m no Biblical scholar - something about brain development and a lack thereof, but I digress - and I’ve heard many different opinions on what this passage means. Was it just written to the Jews at the time of their trials? Was it meant as a message to all Believers? I really don’t know, but I do find it encouraging to read; I mean, isn’t that beautiful?

“I, GOD, know what plans I have for you!!!”

YES!!! What we tend not to look at, however, is He also knows what’s in store for us. We may be willing to follow Him and do the right thing EVERY SINGLE STINKIN’ TIME, but we will also get burned, have our hearts torn, and feel some of the betrayal He has felt when we sin against Him. Our life on this earth is to serve Him, I slowly understand more fully, and His service requires that we suffer; not because He is unhappy with us, but because to serve a Holy God in a fallen world means we will sacrifice, we will cry out, we will bleed.

As usual, I started out with one point and got off track…

I guess my point is I’m realizing more and more the idea of defending the honor of what is right is not bad, but it hurts like its bad sometimes. Standing up for children in schools who are clearly neglected could cost someone their job; speaking out about the atrocities of certain cultures could get someone labelled and scorned; doing everything for “the least of these…” can get you killed. 

Is it worth it? I think so, but don't know if I'm ready to know for sure...