I have been lawyering for a clan for years and been attempting to evangelize the unweildly members by teaching them values of truth, fairness, justice,order and faith in God. My lawyering job is ending successfully while evangelizing is failing dismally.
In the area of morals and values, my effort does not seem to produce result that I am now mulling over moving on and turning away. It is not easy to just give up and admit there is nothing more I can do.
Until my eldest son, Joey said: " If your efforts are no longer producing the desired result then why continue throwing your pearls to the swine." ( I think that is Bible-based). The he followed it up with: "As a a general said,' Choose Your Own Battles.' You maight be able to put your efforts and resources to better endeavors."
Now, that makes it easier for me to move on.
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5 comments:
your son is right. he sounds like sun tzu. listen to him.
focus. keep to your center. apply your resources to where they produce desired results.
evangelizing? simply bear witness to your god by the way you live. god will do the rest.
thank you ancient one. I don't learn fast.
I tried to evangelize a difficult construction client of my husband, treated him with extra liberality despite his abuses in the hope that kindness will touch his heart.
My husband finished the house to his unreasonable demands and without the regular payment agreed upon. After the house was delivered to him, he refused to pay and instead concocted false charges against my husband and our workers including one who was already almost 70 who just stayed for minor light work.
It took me 5 long years before I had his charges dismissed and collected from him. My elder in the Couples for Christ advised me not to mix business and evangelization that way as it could put me in trouble. It did.The wily client exploited our generosity against us including an ancient laborer.
Yeah. Fighting the good fight is worthwile on only two counts:
- If the outcome is desirable
- If people will actually appreciated.
One of these ingredients missing turns you loose on a Quixotic mission that just wastes your time.
For instance, while launching an evangelization campaign in Al Qaeda land may be desirable to the Catholic Ministry, it is less than appreciated (and considered an insult) by the fanatics it is imposed upon. They'll either shoo you away- or shoot you.
Which makes it a stupid quest.
In the heirarchy of choices, you'll eventually realize that there is little inherent morality behind a battle, quest or endeavor.
Think about it. Good or bad, right or wrong, just or iniquitous is hardly the appropriate way of measuring decisions. These are just labels to vicariously brand something as either BENEFICIAL or INIMICAL. Therein comes the confusion.
If it's BENEFICIAL to a party concerned, we call it right, just and true. If it's INIMICAL, we cry foul play.
Obviously whether something is beneficial or inimical is dependent upon the perspective of the labeller. Two people almost always see things differently.
So the next time we mount a crusade in behalf of others... ask first those affected whether they find it beneficial or inimical to them.
I'm a swine and I love it when you throw your pearls at me. All the more I can abuse you. hehehe
There are many like us cretins who enjoy taking advantage of nice people. It gives us delight. It gives us fulfillment.
So yes please. Feed me your pearls. All of it. And perhaps- if Im nice- I'll even bite the hand that feeds me.
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