I am learning more and more each day about a particular, and pervasive, universal, human experience: the struggle to do what is right – when it is situationally difficult or just “internally”, emotionally, willfully difficult.
Sometimes we face external pressures to do the wrong thing. Most of the time, this is caused by our peers. Sometimes known consequences of doing what’s right inhibit us from acting in accordance with our consciences. Though still not acceptable, actions contrary to what is “right” in these cases is atleast understandable. We can relate – or at least put ourselves in the others’ shoes.
But other times, we face pressures from within: our wills are strong and, often, stubborn. We often do what’s wrong just because the immediate result is a “good feeling”. Lying to your parents is easier than telling the truth, in the short-term, because the consequences for what you did wrong are delayed. Fessing up means taking a hit right away – sometimes literally!
But I think for most of us (especially me), we have an obstructed view of the *real* consequences of our behavior. Often times, the punishment for what we do isn’t as immediate and visible as we’re used to. Some wrongful actions won’t reveal their consequences until years later. Other behavior, words or thoughts, deeds or deeds left undone, don’t seem to have any apparent effects at all.
Here’s something to chew on: nothing in life is free. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard this life motto applied “backwards” to describe that every negative action has a negative consequence. You pay for your choices in life by accepting the repercussions they cause. I do some pretty stupid things sometimes, and I really do wonder if they’ll ever catch up to me, or if I will continue to receive “grace upon grace”.