I’m a guy who learns things from everyday events. Sure, I read books and watch videos. I’ve taken classes and attended conferences. But most of the useful bits of wisdom I’ve acquired were unexpected gifts from people who didn’t even know they were teaching me. Average, ordinary circumstances reveal profound truth to me.
Recently, I was strolling down the sidewalk in my neighborhood. (There wasn’t another person in sight so no lives were endangered.) As I turned a corner to head back toward my house, a car pulled up behind me to the stop sign at the intersection. I glanced over my shoulder and beheld a vehicle containing four teenage boys. The passenger window was rolled down. I turned my gaze forward and kept walking. Then I heard one of the boys shout:
“What the f*** you lookin’ at? You piece of s*** old man?”
I have no reason to believe the shouting kid reads my blog. If he did, the following few paragraphs would benefit him. I’m going to pass on the wisdom I gained from him.
Your character is revealed in the little things.
Before hardened criminals receive life sentences in prison they commit petty crimes. Before petty criminals shoplift their first candy bar they shout insults at strangers for no reason. You don’t go to sleep an Eagle Scout and wake up in the Mafia. You take tiny steps every day toward either goodness or evil. Which direction do you step when you shout profanities at innocent old men?
Your friends determine who you become.
I get it. Your friends laughed when you called me a name. I understand the powerful allure of laughter. I’m a comedian. I was funny when I was your age. (Yeah, I was your age once!) There were kids like you back then too. You didn’t invent obnoxious disrespect – it’s been around a long time.
My friends didn’t laugh when I made fun of other people. So, I made fun of myself. That was a tiny step away from evil. I had no clue how much influence my friends had over me. You don’t either. So I’m telling you. Anyone who thinks it’s funny when you step toward evil is NOT your friend. Are you driving around with people who aren’t friends?
How you get approval matters.
As a professional laugh maker, I’m telling you that the need to hear laughter will cost you dearly. It will enslave you. Any addiction will eventually destroy you – including the addiction to approval. When you need people’s approval, those people own you.
One reason I’ve never pumped drugs into my veins or put a gun in my mouth is because I’m not addicted to applause. I’m not craving the spotlight. I don’t need the audience to love me. My life is guided by principles, not circumstances. Can you name one principle that you live by?
Mistakes aren’t permanent if you own them.
I’ve yelled stupid things at strangers. I’ve shoplifted. I’ve vandalized property. Like I said, I was your age once. Teenagers are idiots. I’m grateful that my mistakes didn’t send me too far in the direction of evil. I was blessed to have wise people paying attention to me. Their opinions mattered to me. When I disappointed them, I apologized.
You will not survive unless you learn to apologize. Don’t misunderstand! You might go on living, but you will not really be alive. Remorse is an emotion that you must experience lest you become a fiend. Regret will soften and humble you. It will make you human.
I’m not upset.
Finally, I didn’t take your insult personally. We don’t know each other. We’re not friends. You aren’t qualified to have an opinion of me. And that should bother you. It should eat at your conscience. You squandered an opportunity.
I’m a good person to have as a friend. I’m smart, truthful, and occasionally funny. I write thoughtful blogs to pass along wisdom. You could have learned some stuff from me but, alas, you prefer the cackling of your idiotic ‘friends’.
You asked what the f*** I was looking at but you didn’t wait around so I could tell you.
One Response
Little choices (what could it hurt?) have huge consequences. “Sow an action…reap a lifestyle.
This was a good observation from seeing what was right in front of you, and using wisdom and understanding (Prov. 4) to discern the truth.
Thanks , John.
I shared your blog today.