No Compromise

It certainly is no secret what I think and believe because I lay my heart out right here on a daily basis. The disadvantage, of course, to having a big mouth (or a big pen) is that my words are made readily available to test my own life against. I try, therefore, to write as sweetly as possible, knowing well the probability of having to eat many of my words on a regular basis. That’s the real litmus test in life though, isn’t it? We strive to manage our deeds and actions, in hope that they might live up to our words and beliefs. Most of us end up discovering a gap between the twain, some wider than others. The fact is that we make little compromises every day. We bend the rules a bit, we dabble in the gray areas, we dance along the edge of the abyss. No harm, no fowl right? Perhaps not. I daresay that every time we compromise there is a little harm done. Each of our actions, and thoughts, is like a tiny chip of stone which helps to shape our lives. The end product, the final sculpture, is the sum of all those tiny chips of stone ... and we never know which ones are the important ones, if indeed there are any unimportant ones. Much as wind and rain, rivers and tides, slowly erode the shape of the land, when we compromise we make a choice to erode some small part of ourselves. Then in a year, ten years, or fifty years we can end up with the Grand Canyon through some area of our lives. Woe to those who find themselves on the wrong side of it. Last night I was reminded of an old song by Keith Greene, also entitled No Compromise, which included the words, "Make my life a prayer to You, I want to do what You want me to, no empty words and no white lies, no token prayers, no compromise." Perhaps I even borrowed my original concept for today’s poem from that song. The point is that how we live matters and a person who would count himself or herself upright doesn’t have the luxury of compartmentalizing their lives. We can’t just toss our purported values out the window when we’re angry or when we drive, when we do our taxes or stand to make a greater profit. What we do in those situations is who we are. How we live is who we are, and stands as evidence to what we truly believe. In the last 24 hours I have twice heard people use the term "supposed Christians" in the context that those in question had, by their actions, discredited their professions of faith ... and, by implication, their God. (Who, by the way, deserves better!) Better that we should live lives unspoiled by compromise. Then when, one day, we stand before our Creator He may find reason to utter the sweetest words any being of free will could ever hope hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant." In closing, I admit wholeheartedly that none of us are perfect. However, the beginning of compromise is when we use that fact as an excuse. It should, rather, be taken as a challenge. Onward then.

No Compromise
Our final challenge, men of God
Though we be strong and wise
Is whether we can live a life
That's free of compromise
For vocations, vows and ministry
Yea, everything we do
Can be rendered ineffective
If we fail to follow through
With what we say that we believe
And live it out each day
In the end, the final acid test
Is what we do and say
Our promises and preaching
Are but ineffective lies
If we've not the staying power
To live free of compromise
The choices we make every day
Though seeming insignificant
Slowly shape our hearts and character
'Till they are strengthened or they're bent
Simple things like faith and honesty
Are tested daily by the fires
Of freedom, choice and vanity
As we fight to master our desires
So when our earthly days are through
And we look into God’s loving eyes
What greater tribute could we bring
Than a life unspoiled by compromise
By Frank Carpenter ©