2 things happened recently which made me ponder about our actions when we are being watched and when we are not being watched.
Always doing the right thing?
Do we always do the right thing regardless of who is watching? Or do we only do the right thing when people are watching? Or to put it more accurately, only when important people are watching?
To put it bluntly, are we hypocrites?
2 incidents came to mind as I pondered on this issue.
Incident #1
The road behind our Church building used to be marked with a single yellow line. This meant that parking is free after 5 pm on weekdays and free for the whole day on Sundays and Public Holidays.
However, it was recently re-marked with double yellow lines. Meaning, no parking. Period.
That meant that I now would have to hunt for free carpark lots located further from the Church premise or pay for parking at one of the nearby buildings which open their carparks to the public.
When I complained about this new development to a fellow worshipper of the Church, he said, “Never mind! Just park. There are other cars parked along the road anyway.”
Hmmm???
Incident #2
Late last year, I brought one of my daughters to a conference. As I turned into the carpark located within the premise, the carpark barrier had a sign that said that it was meant only for cars with the correct labels. But the barrier lifted anyway so I drove in. I saw that there were many empty lots.
I parked my car and walked towards the exit, hoping to find someone who’d allow me to park there. Instead, at the exit, I was confronted with another sign that repeated that the carpark was reserved for those with correct car labels.
I drove out and was told to park at a nearby multi-storey carpark instead. But there were so many empty lots, I protested. Sorry, you can’t park here. So, I dropped my daughter and drove off.
As I rounded the bend, away from the line of sight of the person forbidding me to park in the carpark, I thought: I could just drive into the carpark and park.
After all, there was no one there to police the use of the carpark. The decision before me was an expensive one: park for free versus paying $12 at the multi-storey carpark.
Hmmm???
I know both these examples are about carparks and you may think that you are exempt from making such decisions because you don’t drive.
What would you do?
But what if you were the only one who knew you were undercharged at a shop, would you go back and pay the difference?
What if you missed the bin you meant to throw your rubbish into? And no one saw. Would you go pick up your trash and dispose of it properly?
Then ask yourself, would your behaviour change if someone knew/saw: your children/colleagues/pastor/
boss/strangers
Hmmm???
Always doing the right thing even when no one is watching?
I am the first to admit that I don’t always do so. Sometimes it is because of laziness. What?! Have I to make another trip to the store just to return $5?
Sometimes it is because of selfishness. Why must I pay for parking when I can park for free at a lot that no one is using?
After all, no one is watching me.
OR
After all, everyone is doing it.
Someone IS watching
And I am not talking about God. Yes, God IS watching.
But our children are watching us too. They watch us when we cheat and hear us when we lie. They watch us as we relate to the people around us. Are we arrogant to those of a lower standing than us? Are we overly obsequious to people of influence?
They are watching. And learning.
Do the right thing
Let us aim to always do the right thing, regardless of who is watching because we represent the King of Kings here on earth. And let us try not to be hypocrites.
* For the record, I did not park on the double yellow line and I did end up parking at the multi-storey carpark. However, I do not presume that I will always do the right thing though I most certainly pray that I will.
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