What keeps you accountable?
I can honestly say the difference between the time when I was in my teens and early 20’s I felt I was a decent person but if I were to offer an answer to what held me accountable it surely was not what I would say today. I believe I would have said, “Friends and family. I don’t want to let anyone down.” But where did that get me? When I was trying to uphold accountability amongst peers and family members that were as fallible as I then the effort to ‘be good’ sometimes fell short.
So what changed? When I recognized that I wanted to make sure I was living in a way that was only pleasing to God. Today, God keeps me accountable. Before I make a decision I think first, ‘What will God think?’…or if I have stumbled and reacted without following His lead I instantly want to turn to Him in an effort to repent and get back on track.
This question has intrigued me lately when I think about some friends I have that do not believe in God. They are good people. They live their life as decent, law-abiding citizens. But, if I were to be put in a position to put my life savings in their hands I’d have to hesitate. Why? Does that mean I’m judging them? No. I don’t think so. What would cross my mind in that moment of decision would be, ‘What keeps them accountable?’ What drives them to make sure they remain true and lawful? What is their motivation? What is their reward?
I realize if I were to argue this with one of my friends that is an agnostic, he would turn the questions around and try to have me prove that there is a God to give the reward and motivation. (Which is why I thoroughly enjoy the gift of having concrete stories to give that proves His existence).
This thought was provoked by the way in which I was greeted and dealt with today at BEST WISHES gift shop here in Kingwood. The owner is a beautiful pleasant Christian woman and she was so excited about the EXPOSED project. She asked me what she could do to help get the word out. She offered up her business as a place to do a signing (which I would love to bring her the business as well) and then said, “How ever you want to do it is fine with me that is most beneficial to you and the project.” This is a change from what I dealt with yesterday at a particular vendor that I won’t name as I might still have a signing their as well…but it was just much more about business and what they could get from it. Essentially they were offering their business and then taking in a large large chunk of the proceeds and I’d be giving the book away, actually leaving me in the whole with no funds available to the Maria Goretti Network.
I don’t know. I’m NOT saying the other vendor isn’t Christian. Not at all. Those I’ve worked with up to this point have been very pleasant as well…but dealing with the two separate venues was like night and day. So it just led me to think about that good ole question…who really keeps us accountable??
Hey, we all have to make a living. I get that!!! 🙂
It’ll all work out. I have no doubt.
Blessings
Shannon