A move of magnificent stupidity!

I recently attended my son’s graduation from boot camp, known as “Pass and Review”.  It was a wonderful occasion and filled with moments of great joy, pride and fun.  Seeing my son take part in these ceremonies was thrilling.  I also had great pride in walking behind my son-in-law, who at the request of my wife wore his uniform.  I enjoyed watching the seaman come to attention and say, “Good morning, petty-officer,” as he passed.  He acknowledged their respect and I simply smiled as a proud father (in-law).

But there was one moment of magnificent stupidity in the day.  It happened as we were in line to enter the base.  At the gate there was a pedestrian entrance with a moderately long line.  The line moved steadily but not fast.  When you entered the gate you presented your ID and your ticket.  Then you proceeded to a table where all bags were checked.  Then you moved forward to be checked with a wand.  It was efficient but not fast. To the right of the pedestrian entrance was an automobile traffic entrance/exit that was being used by the employees of the base.  The cars pulled up to a guardhouse at the gate, occupants flashed an ID and then moved on.  That line moved much faster.  I should also mention that there were no cars in the exit lanes.   Also, in the general area were a number of guards. All wore uniforms, body armor, had side arms and several had M-4s held in a cross-chest ready position; every indication that security was taken very seriously.  

Apparently, frustrated by the slow progress of the line and seeing the traffic move more quickly a lady in the line broke ranks and started running in through the exit lane toward the guardhouse.  Stop for a moment and get this picture clearly in your mind.  Can you see lots of guards, guns and one person running the wrong way in?  Okay, let’s go on.  One guard near the guardhouse puts one hand on his side arm holds up his other hand and begins repeating the command, “Halt”.  Another guard comes from her left and behind with his rifle in the down ready position, but walking fast, knees slightly bent and in the posture to bring his weapon to bear.  After about the third or fourth “Halt” she stops and the guard commands her to go back the way she came.  As she comes back the guard with the rifle comes up and says, “Don’t ever run onto a military base!  If we were in the Middle East, where I just served, I would have shot you.”  She returned to the line looking more bewildered than chastened. 

What we are talking about is a massive case of lack of situational awareness that led to a move of magnificent stupidity!  We are all capable of such acts of magnificent stupidity in our own spiritual walk and ministry when we lack situational awareness.    When we are not careful to keep track of our condition and what is going on around us we may end up sashaying into a deadly situation.  Here are five questions about our situation that might keep us from acts of magnificent stupidity: 

1. What is the situation with my personal devotions?  Not my study for teaching or sermons but an opportunity to be convicted by the Holy Spirit?
2. What is the situation with my favorite sin?  We need to admit that we all have one temptation that is especially strong for us.
3. What is the situation with my spouse?  If your marriage is on autopilot you are running in the exit gate.
4.  What is the situation with your leaders?  Ignoring a problem in leadership will assure that the problem will get worse. 
5. What is the situation with my accountability life?  Show me a disciple who has no one to hold him or her accountable and I will show you a disciple that is a target.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it is a beginning point to develop the situational awareness to keep us from acts of magnificent stupidity.  As a friend of mine used to say, “Jesus told us to be harmless as doves, but never dumb as a donkey.”