Settling Is Not Acceptable

For your consideration……

I love this Nelson Mandela quote. He also said “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

I am not quite sure why this message is coming through today. It seems a little blunter and harsher than some and I am surprised that we are getting it on a Sunday. However, I trust….. I always have to trust…..that why I may not know the reason, it is exactly perfect for the moment and those who need to hear it will.

When this message came in today, I was reminded of a conversation I had yesterday with my sister-in-law, Ginger. We were talking about the city of Detroit and how it got into the state it is in. We talked about work and how sometimes we would think, “That’s the most stupid decision I have ever seen.” It was so stupid that we would tell ourselves, “We just must not have all of the facts.” Oh, if only that were true! Instead, often they often proved to be  a truly stupid and costly decision made, no doubt, by someone with a huge ego. Of course, that led the discussion to our Government, the Congress, the President.

What is the common denominator?  It is power and control and a sense of entitlement attitude. In general, once in a position of power the ego steps in and the “I can do what I want because that’s what I want or because that is the way it was done before me so I am entitled to do it too.” attitude takes over. As children, we all tried that excuse. “Well she can do it or did it so I did or can too.” I don’t know about you but that earned me a smack up side my head or a get to your room…..sometimes both.

Here is the deal. We know right from wrong. It doesn’t matter what anyone else is doing or did before us. Wrong is wrong and excuses don’t cut it.

A couple of weeks ago on a Sunday morning at Stillwater I turned on the TV. It had to be a local station because we have no cable here. A women was interviewing Derrick Miller, a former right-hand-man for Kwame Kilpatrick, a former Detroit mayor brought down for all kinds of corruption. Miller explained that he knew right from wrong. He had a great upbringing. He was educated and upheld his values until he worked for Kilpatrick. He talked about the very first time he compromised his integrity. He knew it was wrong and went along anyway. Then he said they pretty much had him. The flood gates were open. He settled and paid the price. Settling is not acceptable.

We are using corruption as an example today but settling can happen in all parts of our life. We settle in our jobs. Perhaps we do things we don’t think are right. They may not be illegal but that doesn’t make them less wrong. We are not doing our job justice when we don’t speak up…..when we settle because it is easier or someone else will take the blame. Settling is not acceptable.

We may settle with a friend. We don’t agree with their choices or them our’s but we overlook because we don’t want to lose the friendship. Friends tell the truth because of the friendship. They trust the friendship. They don’t settle. Settling is not acceptable.

We elect people to do a job. Them not doing it is not acceptable. Us accepting that it’s just the way it is now is not acceptable. Thinking we can’t do anything about it or it will never change is wrong thinking. Settling is not acceptable.

What about ourselves and our own lives? It is up to us to take care of ourselves in body, mind and spirit. It is up to us to find and work our life purpose. Giving up, giving away our power (a big one for women), laziness, head-in-the sand etc. all contain excuses. Excuses enable settling. Settling is not acceptable.

We can have a better world but settling will not get us there. “Well, just this once.” or “I didn’t make the decision.” or “It happens all the time.” or “Not my responsibility.” or  “Nothing I can do about it.” or “I can’t” or  “I’ll just wait and see.” or “Next time…I’ll…” etc. are frequent indicators of settling. Settling is not acceptable.

We talked yesterday about God and our Guidance being available to us 24/7. How would we feel if they just threw up their hands and said “Oh, well, I told them.” or “Well, I tried.” or “They won’t listen.” How would we feel if our Guardian Angel went to God and said, “I quit. This is too hard?” What would God say? Would God settle or is settling unacceptable to God?

Each and every one of us have an equal share of this world, the next and the Oneness. Each of us has equal responsibility in creating the world we want to see. Settling will not get us there. Settling is not acceptable.

That is the HOPE. And so it is

Bit by bit, piece by piece, HOPE by HOPE action steps anyone can take……

-Meditate/pray….ask….”What is my next step for my highest good and the highest good of all?”

-Drink lots of water.

-Spend as much time outdoors as you can. Take in at least 10 deep breaths.

-Don’t settle. This does not always mean confrontation. In fact, rarely is it so. It just means stating and doing the right thing with conviction from a loving heart.

What made me smile yesterday……

-Another sunny day at Stillwater and cool wonderful sleeping nights.

-Ginger came for a visit. We slowly made our way through part of the 100 mile yard sale to Marine City for lunch.

-A chill afternoon on the back deck with short snoozes, reading our books and chatting. Ahhhh.

-Dinner on the grill with glasses of wine.

Love, Blessings and Gratitude,

Rev. Chris