I have written some number of posts about integrity, honesty, and focus in hopes of helping someone live their best possible life. I have written why guidelines, goals, and direction are important if you wish to live the best life you can, but not all at once. My attention was drawn to a car in front of me in traffic today that pretty much visually explains why some people have so many problems in their life an consistency in life is so important.
On the back was a shiny new greek letter that looks like a fish which some Christians place as their symbol on the back of their cars. The license plate had one of those plastic covers that make the numbers hard to read from more than a few feet away. On the bumper was a sticker promoting America and her values. On the back window was a Green sticker. Hanging from the mirror was a crucifix, and a dream catcher. The driver who had just thrown some trash out the window onto the street was smoking a cigarette.
This person has no solid direction, focus, goals or values. The fish on their trunk announces their Christian values. The bumper sticker promoting America announces their supporting of American values, and the American way of life. The green sticker speaks for itself.
The plastic license plate cover tells everyone of the drivers disregard for the traffic laws and the personal safety of drivers around them. The cross hanging from the mirror is not appropriate hanging with a pagan dream catcher. The driver was throwing trash onto the street as they smoked giving a clear message of their disregard of their neighborhood, themselves, and the spirit of green.
I wonder how, when I see people with all these life conflicts can have anything even close to a happy and productive life. How can a Christian display their belief on the back of their car, yet intend to speed and deceive the police. How can one person promote America and her values, and trash the very neighborhood they want others to be proud of. How can one person have a fish and a cross, yet smoke cigarettes, and have a dreamcatcher hanging with their cross?
The choices we make in life are seemingly endless. Everything we do or having our life is a choice. What we believe is a choice, with those choices spanning the horizon of religion, sex, and politics. What we choose is our own personal choice and we have every right to choose what we wish to choose as long as no one else is harmed.
What happens to us when these choices conflict with each other? How do we be a practicing Christian who intends to break the law, defiles themselves and the land they live on? Promotes their countries values, and holds Christian and pagan ideas as being equal? I think what happens is someone is in a place where their life is spinning out of control.
This is living a life of constant contradictions. Be Christian, but be attracted and promote things not Christian. How does one love their country and neighborhood, yet take no responsibility for its upkeep? Promote law abiding values, yet intend to speed or drive recklessly. This is what they are showing the world on their car. Any guesses what the rest of their life is like?
Of course it is important to have strong ideals and beliefs. It is more important not to trip yourself up with conflicting beliefs that have you talking of one thing and doing another. No one can be happy while being tugged in two opposite directions. it is important to choose one or the other and follow only that path.
Consistency is one of the more important attributes you can add to your life. Whatever you choose, be consistent about it. Allowing inconsistencies to creep into your life, is allowing your life to be thrown about and shredded to pieces. Be consistent and be happy.
