Um, Just Kidding?!
This past week, I’ve been at the Cancer Treatment Center of America in Goodyear, Arizona with my dad. Last night while he was resting, I had some down time and glanced through the pictures saved on my phone. I rediscovered two which I’m going to post today.
Luckily for you, I’m also going to share the story behind them and include a few moral analogies!
The story begins:
Once upon a time I moved my wife to Dallas to take a job offer. I enjoyed my role with the company and completely immersed myself in the industry. For almost three years I was an honest employee, achieved good numbers, and dedicated extra time in the evenings and weekends to improve the company.
Then one afternoon, I was called to speak with the owners who told me that they appreciated my effort and the relationship we’ve developed, but explained that the company was heading a different direction and I was no longer needed. I left in shock. My stomach was in knots and I felt betrayed and unappreciated. I had relocated for them and there was no Plan B.
A few days later I drove past their “side project” retail store and still festering the bitter feeling inside of me, I mumbled out-loud: “I hope that place burns down…”
Well what do you know?!…
The very next day as I drove down that same road and approached that same store, my eyes locked onto a thick waft of black smoke.
Could it really be?!
My heart rate doubled as I drove closer and my hands began to perspire. My mind raced back to the day before: Had I mentioned to ANYONE my evil little thought? Surely I didn’t mean it. It was just a stupid comment from an harmless fool. Am I a suspect for arson?!!! Why didn’t I pause afterwards and say: “JUST KIDDING!” yesterday? Oh me and my BIG mouth…
Then around a slight bend in the road the path to the store cleared and my eyes traced the smoke to a bus which had caught fire in FRONT of the store.
PHEW! I finally exhaled.
Analogy time!
- Don’t make venomous remarks while upset. You usually don’t mean them, and they have dangerous potential to harm you, or at the very least make you feel foolish.
- While your limited vision and perspective can cultivate worry of the future, trust that the Lord does as he sees fit to help you fulfill your plan and realize your potential. If he prompts and you don’t respond, he may at times use others to force your hand and make a move. I obviously would not be doing what I enjoy so much today had I stayed with that employer as I had planned.
What do you think? In the comments, go ahead and list some more tie-ins!
No trackbacks yet.