Passive vs. Active

Needless to mention, no one is perfect, we all have flaws. While your best friend has ups, that privileged person also has downs. It’s what distinguishes us from everyone: our unique strengths and our own downfalls. It’s downfalls that provide us an opportunity to help diminish them from others as best as possible without “going over the edge,” assuming you take the role of active.

Struggles and imperfections are what has drawn us away from that Higher Being we want to draw closer to. Depending on who you are, we all have or have had skeletons in our closet. It’s not a known secret to anyone that not one of us is right “all the time.” Even the wisest people wouldn’t suggest that of themselves to anyone. Not a stranger passes by that I do not have a clear concrete mindset that there is at least something wrong with them. Yes, it could be small or it could be big. It could be camouflaged to blend in with the background or it could stand out against present surroundings. But, fact being, it is noticeable to either be present or hidden and you know this from conversations and deeper levels of friendship.

If you were a married couple, and you notice your partner really just falling down a hole, how do you aide them for their and your own good? If I have a presentation to make at work (life) and I have something on my face I didn’t realize prior to heading to the meeting, I would expect my team (Christian brothers and sisters) to let me know if they see me at that moment so I can go back to a mirror (God) and fix myself up………….eliminating the problem before presenting my big ideas to the board (nonbelievers) and therefore looking my best. Of course, I could take the other road and be foolish and laugh in their face and say that there wasn’t anything wrong that they were making it up, but people should take mini counsels seriously.

I think it’s important to help people out if it means that you are getting rid of a hazard to your relationship. When sailing the seas, you Helmsman will want to avoid obstacles as much as possible for a smooth ride to destination, hence, in relationships, I consider it pivotal that you mentor your best friend/spouse. If you don’t and just pray that God changes them, while that is a good thing, is not the only step you can do.

And how ironic, as I was typing up this blog, one of my old friends stopped by, his face in disarray, it completely scared me. At first I didn’t recognize him, but after he started talking, I was quick to place his name: It was Mac, and his story is amazing……He had this friend he’s been with for a years, but after a few fights, he would become familiar with the twists and turns of rollercoaster riding at “Friendville.” Two days ago, his friend who’s he’s been there for, took a skateboard and pounded his face with the company of a metal flashlight. Now this friend of mine is very special to me, he’s always positive, always upbeat, Asian, and just an all around great guy. He eats really well and has a great job. He’s one of those rare guys who actually seems like he has it all together, like so many of us twenty-something’s don’t. Because of his decision to be there for his friend, he took the beating and the risks. He gave him until now just to admit to his act. 


I mean that’s all he wanted. Mac didn’t want money for the medications and emergency room hospital visit, he didn’t want compensation for emotional damage, no, all he asked him to do was to admit to it. Now if you were his friend and you heard a guy like Mac say, “Hey, you and I both you were wrong that night, but I just want you to admit to your wrong doing and start over, what do you say?” Wouldn’t that strike you as someone “different.” Because Mac took that passive approach versus active, he paid for his wrong doing. Mac paid it all, and was only interested in his friend only self-improving. Now I realize that having suffered personal trauma, you’ll most likely be active but he was active for his “friend” not himself. In a way, that’s passive, if you get my drift.

Wow, way to go Mac, I asked him to keep me updated on the situation but as it looks right now he considers charges to be a good lesson for him since he forewent his generous offer of just admitting it. It’s an honor and privilege to have people like Mac close to my life.

Does it apply to simply best friends or significant others? Many would disagree with me, but no, it’s not, based on my opinion. I’ve been told I’m unaware as to how to be passive, I care too much that it interferes things, and, my testimony to that proves the opposite. Because of my personal level of care to the fellow man (i.e., those I know and even those I don’t), it has allowed my seed in Christ to be shared in other fields and to have that opportunity in their life to grow and blossom. Being as humbled as I can, I can proudly say that I’m glad for the past decisions I have made because most of them have been corrected and altered, which has been better for the future for them and even others. It has involved sacrifice but isn’t that what doing good is all about? One of the sacrifices I’ve had to personally make was This involved one of my jobs in order to do what’s right and not for a second do I blame myself for a second, it’s an honor to “suffer” for what’s doing right. It’s with these losses that you know God will still protect you and guide You for the next target.

It’s like the Great Commission. It states, entirely: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20. This is an important teaching. It’s like me and my knowledge in guitars. I can’t play a song as well in front of hundreds and maybe thousands of people if I’m missing one of my strings. Likewise, Jesus teaches that love is an important part of the whole realm of Christianity. According to the New Living translation, love is mentioned nearly six hundred times, that’s a lot because just mentioning that word, they have to have some story or command to introduce the word. 1 Cor. 13 explains in depth what love is and what it’s not. To sum it up: it’s unconditional and expressive through actions but also words as well. Words that can come as help for others: from comfort to a troubled soul to a pat on the back for support. But with those hundreds of passages in the Bible about love, that’s sure a lot of mentions!!

So, I’ve been bold and have tried others to follow in not my shoes, but Christ’s, as well. I have decided to be passive where it’s been needed and where I’ve thought it’s necessary. Christ didn’t have to care for that blind woman to be healed, he could’ve cared less! But no, he admired her. He loved her, He treasured her. Pharisees, Christ knew that it might have been a waste of time to talk some sense in them, but he turned the tables at the Temple to teach them some wise words of advice.

I’d encourage you, get out there, step up off your box, live! Words can only go so far, but taking action and doing what’s right will help you grow so much more as a person that Christ designs for you to be. Who cares what you will loose, what if it’s your house, don’t have limits. Only when the completely refuse you do you then consider the wise step in backing off. But, when they don’t say stop, go on and on and on until they say no more.

So......what’s the big difference when these terms are in relation to people? One who is active steps in and take action. Being passive means that you are one who “just lets it go.” Which one are you?