The question was an interesting one. Our conversation around the immediate next steps was collegial, creative, and concise. We had reached a consensus on the opportunity and our approach. We were all set to go. In the short-term I was fine. Yet, in the back of my mind there was a lingering and echoing word that I could not escape from. But…
“We are good to go for now. Let’s revisit the bigger picture when we get through this step.”
One of the gifts from my father was the gift of his word. When he gave it to anyone, the contract between the two parties was stronger than any written contract! Void of fine print and nuanced meaning, his verbal agreement and handshake was simple, direct, and absolute. It was better than something you could take to a lawyer because there was zero chance that he would back out of the agreement.
As I consider this, I consider the reality of the many ways I have learned to wiggle. The ability to twist and rationalize is deep within; tugging and pulling with the decisions around what comes next. Life often leaves me with alerts and telltales, flagging areas where I should be cautious. My arrogance, masking itself as a blinding confidence in myself, ensures that I ignore the messages. I cannot deny that the outcomes that follow are partially of my own making.
As I considered the next with the warning flag flutters in life’s chaos, I found myself going back to the following reminders.
One from my mother. Playing in the mud means one cannot stay clean. In plain speak, pick your playground carefully. Mud will not change with the participation of the innocent. Mud leaves everyone it touches less clean than they were.
One from a friend. Always have a plan. Stop, consider, and remember not to run.
One from the psalms; Embraced the good, avoid all else. “The crooked in heart keep their distance; I refuse to shake hands with those who plan evil.” (Psalm 101.4)
