Reflections

Reflections is a weekly meme hosted by Kristin of A Simply Enchanted Life and Fizzy of Fizzy Pop Collection. Every Sunday we will dig deeper in our recent reads to explore the real-life lessons within the pages. Reading the book yourself is not necessary to participate. If you would like to host your own reflection, you’re welcome to copy and paste this introduction, with the link to our pages. You may use our current or prior reflections or come up with your own.

In ‘A Loyal Heart‘ by Jody Hedlund Olivia justifies her actions in trying to find the holy chalice as she believes it could help her brother. In her justification she misses the point that by sneaking around and trying to take it for him she is in reality trying to steal it. Our culture often tells us that something can’t be wrong if we’re doing it for the right reasons, especially if our choice won’t hurt someone else. What’s wrong with this kind of reasoning?

This question brings to mind the many times I have listened to the Minions of Mischief attempt to explain away their poor choices and sometimes bad decisions. ‘But Meme, you don’t understand I was just…’ fill in all the blanks you can imagine (and some that defy logic). We all have done it and at times I’m sure we still do it. The idea that sometimes you have to do wrong things for the greater good is a huge debate topic in almost any agenda. The thing is…if it’s wrong it’s wrong. Lack of patience, lack of trust, even lack of faith is at the core root of this mindset, in my opinion. We lack the patience to find the opportunities to do the ‘greater good’ as everything feels so imminent. We lack trust that other’s can or will find whatever our ‘greater good’ is also truly a greater good. We lack faith in ourselves, others, and even God. When we can align those three things together then the opportunity to achieve our goal in the right way will present itself at the right time.

Perfect example. I’m in the running for a huge promotion at work right now. A job I’ve actually been doing for almost seven months. There is no guarantee that I will actually get the position, I will be interviewing right along with everyone else who has a dream for this position. I’ve had others say they are not going to apply as they don’t want to go up against me. They are giving up their opportunity on the assumption that it will be mine to take. I encourage them to apply anyway, if it is really something they want. Even if neither of us get the job it gets their name out there and gives them exposure and experience. There are people that are telling me that they did apply for the reasons I just gave, they don’t think they have a chance against me but they want the exposure and experience. I’m totally open to sharing honest tips and ideas to help them. It would be wrong of me not to. Yes I want this job but never at the expense of another. I’m not really a throw someone under the bus kind of gal. I’ll do my work, I’ll do my part to secure this future for myself. If it is truly meant to be then my work will pay off. And if it’s not? I have no idea what they will do with me.

Your turn! Is it wrong if we are doing something for the right reasons even if your choice won’t hurt someone else?