Fortitude: strength to endure. |
AM I A BAD PERSON? While doing my job, someone is hurt. I long to disappear, discreetly vanish, hide in a hole. Can I make it better? No. Degradation and humiliation precipitate a debilitating blow, smashing resolve, stabbing pain of mind and soul. Emotions rise -- a flood of inescapable tears threaten to wrack me. Sick, driving home... Am I a bad person? A four-year old spills ball bearings and magnets; pieces roll in every direction. He sadly looks down, I'm a bad person. No, you're not a bad person. We can pick up. Aggressive drama unfurls at the skating rink where unposted rules change from week-to-week. No one speaks; the facade is: the bully reigns supreme. Does direct confrontation make me a bad person? Waiting in line, the lab opens. Selfishness pushes to the front. "We're in line here." "It doesn't matter who is first!" "It does to us!" Verbal thrashing ensues, pummeling hard and relentless, menacing as a plummeting boulder. Yet Selfishness steps back. No one speaks; unseeing eyes are evading, pretending nothing happened until the deluge of Selfishness returns, a vengeful, undeniable reminder of truth. And my befuddled mind begs... Am I a bad person? ----------------------- Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets. ~Luke 6:26 (KJV) Romans 12:9-16 (KJV) |