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Pleading the Fifth May 13, 2008

Posted by Anya in : I won't keep things purposely vague , 1 comment so far

I was looking at some things I had written a while ago.  It’s incredible how often doing that leads me to wonder if I used to be smarter.  Really.  I had been writing about those sort of situations which don’t really seem to have any good sort of resolution and the best thing to do appears to be walking away.  (This sort of reminds me of Mr. Bean’s Holiday, where he sloshes coffee all over the other guy’s laptop and just goes on his merry way.  Ibey finds this outrageous.  But I digress.)

Anyway, at the time — about a year ago — I had come to the conclusion that there are situations when we don’t have a right to remain silent. 

These occasions probably fall into basically two categories.

1)  When we are called to speak to someone about something which is wrong in their lives.

2)  When we are called to thank someone for something they did right. 

Biblical basis for the first would be found in Ezekiel 33:1-9 and James 5:19-20 and various other places.

For the second point, I’m going to call into play a verse which I love a lot.  You probably shouldn’t ask what called it to my attention just… because.  Okay.  I’ve warned you.  Anyway, here it is:  Proverbs 3:27.  Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.

I decided that it would be fun to try putting that verse into action.  Because a lot of times I owe some sort of good to people and far too easily withhold it.  Not good.  But it was fun when I tried applying it to real life.  Hey, I thought one night, I was having fun talking with Meredith.  I should thank Samwise for introducing us.  Then after a minute another thought struck me (much like the thoughts on the Vogon planet, for those who have watched Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy — props to Andúnë and Griffin).  Anya, quit procrastinating, said thought #2.  You’re online and you have Sam’s email address.  Shoot him off a quick thank you.  Thought #3, I’m afraid, pointed out that this would look rather goofy.  Fortunately, Samwise is already rather well acquainted with my goofiness, and I didn’t think it would bother him.  It didn’t. 

So… think about it.  Where do you not have the right to remain silent?  Mordecai made it obvious to Esther that God had appointed her to the position where she was for a reason, not to be quiet.

And then do it.  God has put you where you are for a purpose.  To be a witness.Â