I recently was asked to purchase an item of which I needed also. In purchasing two, I took one out of the package and attempted to work with it. In short course, the office phone rang and I was off to an "emergency" call where someone dropped her school ID and USB drive on a key chain into the elevator pit. In the process of retrieving the items, I did not realize that I lost the freshly purchased item. As much as I wanted to backtrack my steps, realizing it much later that night, I was unable to for the duty at hand. I would have to count it as lost, although I did not want to. On the way to another place, that same night, I came across a new cell phone, freshly abandoned on a bench as a person ran for the train. Turning it in to the local booth, I thought that the person would at least have an opportunity to retrieve it. I overcame the reasoning to utilize the second purchased item, since in my decision making process, I had already deemed it as not to be mine. Even as the person placed monies on the table with other reasoning, I continued to feel loss.
On the second day, I did not feel any better about it and continued to right the thought of it with search in my head. It was on the same day in song and praise that I began to forget my loss, attempting to let go of the issue. My song and praise cut short by an entering adversary; who thought it strange that I could sing. I then went to another location to continue forgetting my loss.
On the third day, someone in a position of responsibility dropped an important item in the midst of the street as they went off to a location. There laid a company credit card for at least two hours before I happened by, out to lunch to see and recover it. Now, I knew how important it was and also knew how difficult it would be to replace it, so I picked it up. Having seen the men who created this situation in error, a temptation- childish response of pride, came to mind to nitpick at it, which I refused to do. I simply called the man aside upon his return and informed him of the error to which he brushed off, seeing assumingly- that he had no personal connection with it. Had I went another route to ensure that the point of importance towards the lost item became emblazed upon his heart, a condition of animosity would have developed between us both, with me, losing the opportunity to show myself neighborly. By leaving it alone and allowing his own conscious mind to guide him, I left the situation open to interpretation with a hope towards responsibility. Learning that knowing the importance of correction is good knowledge, although knowing how to implement (invoke) it is wisdom. Public or private hostile personal embarrassment is then childish.
Now, did that close the chapter in my heart concerning my initial loss or the lack of responsibility on the other’s part, no! What it did do is allow me to see the limits of my involvement in each case, not interrupting the other individual’s sense of person (self responsibility), but a working towards being neighborly enough to help out each matter as the opportunity arose before me. Perhaps in time, the man will come to a place, where my reaction would steer his heart towards responsibility, no matter how long it took or how much it stressed my heart as unto his lack of responsibility towards the gravity of the situation. Perhaps in time, my response with humility would bear heavy upon his heart. Knowing that a response of (typical parental) pride from me could incite anguish, giving way to rebellious disobedience (in the child) where (an) innocence was once.
In a much more serious case, a different reaction might seem appropriate, even lawfully necessary, but in this case, I assume that it was not. As for a possible negative response, this is the difference between a seemingly innocent childlike response towards an outside inflection from their heart (earth) soiled with internal pride, or a blunt decision to rebel (sin) for the lack of my responsibility towards being neighborly. It is up to the responsible one in each case to be guided accordingly, as it is up to the child to become responsible through receipt of instruction.
When an aged person shows childlike rebellion, (in one with a knowledge), it is plain to see that their parents or leaders did not successfully remove the pride of the child from them. Life has a way of tightening the belt of that one, although with needful goods and services or the right price, some have purchased their own way, leaving in place their childish pride, strengthening their flesh. That one has not yet grown up, no matter how wealthy in gifts or store they are.
Innocence with humility will save a soul through humble (neighborly) instruction, if they will hear you.
Having writ piece this has given me peace in losing the item on the first day. It has now been heart listed as an insightful persecution, giving way for our father to recover it with fruitfulness instead of my prideful anguish.
