Visualize what you would do. Practice it over and over in your mind. Think about it. Those suggestions came from a self-defense class I once took.
What would you do if some scary looking fella in a trench coat was following you to your car? It’s important that you have a plan. It’s like kids practicing the fire drill. Schools are mandated to practice fire drills once a month. Why? Because walking the kids through the motions will help them if the real thing ever hits. It’s good to have thought through the scenario ahead of time. It’s sort of like practice for your mind.
I’d like to propose that we start visualizing what we will do in all sorts of situations.
I recently decided I’d stop in parking lots for people. Not that I used to plow anyone down, but when it wasn’t clear if the person was going to make it into my path before I could make it by them, I’d always drive in reaction mode, unsure and lacking in my parking lot confidence. Now I know. I stop. I wait. And that lady on her cell phone lolly-gagging around doesn’t have to worry about crossing the main thoroughfare. Occasionally I will get the “waver” who waves me on by, and that’s fine. But for the most part, I feel much safer and less haphazard.
That’s a little thing, and that’s what I’m talking about. It kind of goes without saying that we should be thinking through the big stuff. But I’m pretty sure most people aren’t. Most people aren’t thinking through any of it.
What kind of things should you be figuring out? That varies from person to person I guess. But I do think there are some situations for which we should all ponder, know our stance, have a plan, and be ready.
Here’s a short list. Have you thought through these scenarios?
~ How much money would you give to a homeless person?
~ What do you do if you see an accident or someone driving unsafely?
~ How do you handle a bully?
~ What do you do if the person your with starts up with some juicy gossip?
~ Do you pick up hitchhikers?
~ If someone asked you to explain what you believe about God, what would you say?
~ Where would you stand if someone asked you to bow down to an idol?
(Okay, that last one probably seems farfetched, but I think it’s time to be ready for whatever might be coming our way.)
The point here is to BE READY. And the best way to be ready is to have thought about what you will do, who you want to be, and where you want to end up.
I want to get across the parking lot in the kindest, most considerate manner possible, so if I happen to cross paths with that person inside the store, the first thing she thinks won’t be that I didn’t stop, but that I did, that I cared a little bit.
It’s all about being ready, and being ready doesn’t just happen. We’ve got to start thinking more.
What scenarios do you think we should be prepared for?
“The night is nearly over; The day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” Romans 13:12
“Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage– with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:2-5
I don’t think asking what you would do if someone asked you to bow down to an idol is farfetched in the sense that we see it in the world today. Sure, most people don’t worship little golden figurines (at least in first world countries), but I have known people that worship the life of the party or their bodies or money or fill in the blank of whatever anyone might put on a pedestal and obsess about constantly. Being prepared might look like filling our minds with scripture about how God made us fearfully and wonderfully to combat all… Read more »
You are so right about us making all kinds of things idols. Anything that we turn to and put in front of God and his word can end up being an idol. Thanks so much for sharing and the scripture. I love that verse and I think we need to heed those warnings now more than ever before. Praying for you dear! Thanks for sharing!