THE NEXT “RIGHT” THING

I used to have a friend who was awesome. In public. Everyone thought he was an incredible father and husband and person. And he was. Most of the time. But, just like all of us, he had secrets. At home, behind closed doors, he had serious anger issues. He didn’t beat his wife or kids physically, but the verbal and emotional abuse was beyond anything I’d ever witnessed.  His family was so afraid of him that they perpetuated the lies, keeping the facade in tact, and to this day nobody outside the family really knows the truth. Because it all happens behind closed doors.  This creates a suffocating world of lies and double-standards for his family.

Of course, this was a “sandpaper person” in my life and since this rubs me the wrong way I have to ask myself, “What do *I* do in secret?  How am I two-faced, behaving one way in public and another way behind closed doors?  What do I do when I think nobody is watching and  especially when I think nobody will find out??”  The answer is, “A lot!” From speeding when I don’t think cops are around, to sneaking a cupcake (or drink or whatever,) when I don’t think anyone will ever find out.

The scary thing is more and more we see that there’s not a whole lot that is done in secret any more. Everyone has a cellphone, and they’re more than happy to record something and post it online somewhere. 

Actually, this isn’t new.  It’s ancient.  In fact, Jesus told us over 2,000 years ago that whatever we whisper in secret will be shouted from the rooftops. (Luke 12:3) In today’s terminology, “shouted from the rooftops” means “posted on Facebook, Twitter, or Youtube!!”

The thing is, everything IS being recorded. (Psalm 56:8) God sees EVERYTHING we do. He hears everything we say or even think. While this thought may be a bit disturbing, knowing God’s love for us assures us that it’s not because He wants to criticize and condemn every little thing we do, (John 3:17) but He wants to help guide our thoughts and feelings and actions more towards His path for us.  A healthy, fulfilling and rewarding life, which is His desire. (John 10:10)

So, how do we live like this? With nothing to hide? 

I think the answer, is moment by moment. Doing the next “right” thing. And then the next. And then the next. And then the next. And when we do the “wrong” thing, we do the next “right” thing. And then the next. And, well… you get the picture.

One of my favorite quotes is attributed to Aristotle, but it was actually written in 1926 by Will Durant in his book, “The Story of Philosophy.” It is absolutely brilliant. It says,  “Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, rather we have those things because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

May we all develop the habit of having nothing to hide by doing the next “right” thing. And then the next. And then the next. 

In Jesus’ name. 

Amen.

SCRIPTURES

Luke 12:3 ~ Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear! (NLT) 

Psalm 56:8 ~ You have taken account of my wanderings; Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book? (NASB)

John 3:17 ~ For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him. (AMPC)

John 10:10 ~ I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance, to the full, till it overflows! (AMP)