But take
care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
Tom and I sat in the car outside my office. It was a blustery,
snowy day in February and my first day back after a week of vacation. I asked Tom to pray
with me, because I needed courage and faith to do what I was about to do. We prayed.
My decision was the right one, but I had no idea how others would
react. I scheduled an appointment with my boss. By noon, the word was out -- the Vice
President of Business Development had resigned.
My biggest fear was that people would think I was ungrateful for my
job, but the opposite was true. For the first time, I truly appreciated my job and the
personal and professional insights I had gained over the previous five years.
I chose to work in health care so I could "make a
difference," but what I had found was an increasing disparity between my work
environment and my faith values. I felt like one of the Christians in Corinth listening to
Paul’s words of wisdom:
Be careful not to blend in with the world and adapt to its values
and lifestyle -- true believers don’t blend well. Don’t mistake inactivity for
order and cordiality for unity.
It’s been nearly a year since that day in February, and I have
absolutely no regrets, although I do miss many of the wonderful people I worked with. Like
many Corinthians who heard Paul’s words, I am reminded of how much I appreciate my
freedom – freedom to choose my vocation, freedom to make decisions, freedom of time.
I know that with this freedom comes responsibility, the responsibility to exercise my
freedoms in a God-pleasing way and with the understanding that my actions have a
tremendous impact on others.
I suppose that since September 11 we have all asked ourselves similar
questions about the ways we choose to live our lives. That day was a reminder, albeit a
dreadfully sad and painful reminder, that along with freedom comes responsibility. As we
accept and live out our responsibilities as Americans, we hope and pray that our actions
create a contagious desire for the joy of freedom.
Heavenly Father, during this time of Lent, we are reminded that
our own sacrifices are so trivial when compared to the sacrifice of your Son. Let us
rejoice in our ultimate freedom – the freedom from sin and death that came with the
sacrifice of our blessed Jesus Christ. Amen.
Dottie Caplan
