Since the www.Ripples-Book.tk website was offline yesterday, I dropped a note On my facebook page. Here it is:
In every aspect of life we are involved in, there is a factor known as participation. And for there to be participation someone (us, we, them, me, you) participates. Depending on the opportunity, desire or moment in life, we choose to participate individually or not. We choose our level of participation. We choose with whom we will and won’t participate. The primary driving force in participation is generally a cost, benefit situation. How much will it cost me and what will I be benefitted.
Many times it is a bottom line settled long before the opportunity. If a certain person or group or type of person(s) is involved, then I’m in. Or if someone or thing or principle is involved then I choose to be distant, whether I otherwise would have participated or not. In our perception, association can outweigh benefit whether for others or ourselves. There are a lot of factors involved in saying yes or no to any situation.
Let’s take a domestic situation. Supper was good and the kitchen needs cleaned up and the dishes washed. At what level of participation do you feel compelled to participate? Let me give you five.
A – I love to organize and clean, I get appreciation from others and never get criticized for not helping.
B – If someone else starts I’ll help but I’m not taking this on alone
C – I’ll suggest someone else pitch in because they seldom do and I’ll hang back to critique them.
D – Don’t care, ain’ta gonna do’er. Forget that junk, Jack!
E – Tip the waiter and thank the cook, head to the house without a backward look.
Honestly the fifth one is pretty appealing but not too many of us have that money tree thing going on. Yet how many times do we see the fourth making a stand. And we could bear out all the fruit of the tree down to the perfect little saint who’s going to grab all the glory for themselves. Each has a reason, a justification, an attitude and an excuse. Each has chosen according to their perceived cost benefit ratio. Whether at work, in a game, in school, at the store, driving down the street, doing laundry, cleaning the whatever, seeking companionship or any other moment in life. We choose to participate at the level we choose to.
And sometimes we choose to do as we do because it benefits someone else; just because we can; just because we choose to. And I think that is when we are most lovely in the sight of God.
So what is the benefit of being found lovely in the sight of God?