Thursday; July 23


          Have you ever heard the phase, “It easier to ask for forgiveness than permission”?  (I won’t ask how many of us have used the phrase because that might hit too close to home.)  While the mantra sounds good and is a pretty convenient excuse for plunging headlong into questionable activity, is it really wise?  Yes, it might help us to get our way, but have we ever thought about how much it costs?  Is it worth the loss of our reputation as a “stand up” person to do something quickly?  Is it worth the hit our trustworthiness takes when we rely upon someone’s forgiveness rather that considering their feelings?  Yes, from a self-serving perspective, this might make sense, but is the reward worth the risk?
          Interestingly, the Old Testament book of Proverbs seems to have something to say about this, “Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps errs.” (Proverbs 19:2).  The quintessential book of wisdom challenges the wisdom of doing first and evaluating it later.  When it comes to debatable actions, it appears that the sage is the one who gains knowledge (and approval) before launching off into unknown waters.
          Let’s do ourselves and those around us a favor.  Let’s look before we leap – it just might help save our reputation and our relationships.
Think About It!

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