Fight or Flight?

Well, after dinner I got sucked into watching the majority of The Patriot with Mel Gibson...well, watch and half fall asleep to. Don't get me wrong, it's a great movie. I was just tired :)

In the movie there is a scene where they are trying to round up militia and a woman stands up and basically calls out all the men in the town, claiming how she has head them speak of the cause of the war, but now when they have the opportunity, they refuse to act.

"Dan Scott, barely a week ago I heard you railed for two hours about independence. Mr. Hardwick, how many times have I heard you speak of freedom at my father's table? Half the men in this church, including you, Father, and you, Reverend, are as ardent patriots as I. Will you know, when you are needed most, stop at only words? Is that the sort of men you are? I ask only that you act upon the beliefs of which you have so strongly spoken and in which you so strongly believe." - The Patriot

This sentiment, of talk more than action, rings a little too true to me, and to our society in general. We talk so much and have such hardened opinions on things such as social justice and welfare and taxes, but we are so quick to point at another group and say it is worth it that they suffer so that the rest of 'us' can benefit. But I suppose that is more of the tirade of a moderate than anything else.

What I am getting at is that we need to act on the things that we say we believe in. Whether in faith or politics or our jobs, we need to support our opinions by acting in accordance with them and taking every opportunity to promote what we think is best. This comes, of course, with interacting with others who have conflicting opinions or simply don't care and don't want to change things because it takes effort, time, and potentially money. While interacting with others can mold your view and give you new perspectives, whatever you decide keep working at it!

This includes you, Christians! "A shepherd must tend his flock. And at times, fight off the wolves."

If you feel so strongly, do something! Or when the fight comes to you, how will you respond? Fight, or flight?

Okay, tirade over.


- Erica

"Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. 'Come now, let us reason together,' says the LORD" Isaiah 1:17-18