An important principle I learned in the 80’s while working at a sour gas plant in central Alberta, Canada is one to be shared. We worked rotating shifts, twelve hours on, two to three days at a time. The four teams had four men to a team. There was a lot of smooth running time with few upsets. An accurate job description might be ‘hours of boredom, punctuated by minutes of terror! So for sake of conversation (staying awake) teams were divided according to interests. (e.g. men talking sports were one team, farmers another, hunting-fishing a third, and religious) I was placed with 3 men very strong and united in their religious convictions. I knew these men were praying for my ‘lost’ soul. In consequence, over three months, my own convictions were strengthened, knowing more than ever I was doing as the Lord wanted.
It became reaffirmed to me that whatever your level of belief or conviction, if the person (or collectively, the group) is stronger, you must give extra attention to your convictions to keep them… or others are sure to pull you their way. If it becomes overwhelming, get out or warn them regarding harassment. Should you decide to go their way, abandon previous convictions for something different, are you now headed in a more elevated direction or less so, and what of the negative or positive ripple effect upon loved ones?
Fast forward 10 years to the 90’s, when I worked in Cincinnati, Ohio. The work place was so spiritually *caustic (conversation and pornographic talk… far beyond simple ‘cuss words’), I felt as if I were drowning spiritually… no relief in sight. I had to get out. ANYTHING that causes distance between self and The Living Christ is spiritually caustic and must be avoided as though a plague (Spiritually, they surly are plague like when they turn so many from Him!). This includes ‘innocent excesses’ such as endless TV, movies, cellular texting/activity, gaming, to not so innocent… pornography, theft, abuse, persecution, or abandoning others for selfish pursuits to name a few.
In conclusion, there are upward paths that will lead us in a direction our Savior would have us go, to personal and family safety under The Living Christ. They should be prayerfully considered putting aside all preconceptions. If you haven’t read, or recently read the Home Page (purpose) of this blog, I invite you to do so. kdm
*caustic – extremely critical or sarcastic (Webster)
