Stressful situations always bring out the real person behind the façade. That is if it has been hidden. In today’s world people just let it all hang out most of the time anyway.
Last Tuesday, DC suffered an earthquake. Several persons on my floor are assigned the task of floor monitors to make sure everyone got out safely. When the building started rocking and rolling…they all left. It was survival of the fittest or “I’m taking care of me first!”
The days since the earthquake have seen several persons expressing their fears and inability to face the possibility of a catastrophe. They are vowing to abandon the building more quickly the next time and not to hesitate as long as they did. They don’t expect anyone else to watch out for them. It’s me who has to protect me.
The afternoon of the quake the Metro was loaded. The platform of the station was packed. More kept coming in and jamming the already tight space even tighter. It was more telling when the trains arrived. There was no thought of stepping aside for others or letting those who have been waiting the longest go first. It was whomever could force their way to the front could get on. The rest of you can wait.
I was with a colleague from my office. In the course of the conversation I suggested in jest to him that he could make a hole for me and I would rush on the train. (He was quite a bit bigger than me) But we both soon realized that we weren’t aggressive enough to force others, men and women alike, to the side so we could get to the front. The results were that we waited for 90 minutes and didn’t get on a train until the third one came.
We finally made our way to the front of the platform and, without knocking someone down, boarded a train. It was tight to say the least. The windows were fogged up from the heat of all the passengers. There were no seats and very little room to stand in. I had to hold my lunchbox over my head to make as much room as I could. We were definitely up close and personal with total strangers.
Every station we approached had a full platform with many others who wanted to join us on the train. Here’s where it gets interesting. When the doors opened they forced their way on the train and it really didn’t matter if there was room for them or not.
At one station several persons (can’t say ladies and gentlemen; they were more like cows) got on pressing others out of their way. Well, really they were just mashing in more tightly with all the rest of us occupying the space. One young lady complained that she was being crushed and it was hurting. The other young woman she spoke to said “sorry” like “too bad so sad”. The first young lady responded that she could have waited for another train. Her thoughtful reply, “Tell that to the other 20 who just got on.”
So much for civility. It’s back to the Garden of Eden. If you are being hurt it isn’t my fault…it’s them. I’m not responsible for my behavior when others are doing just as bad or worse.
Mob mentality. Blame it on someone else. It’s not my fault. I have no personal responsibility for your discomfort.
Check that, followers of Christ. We are each held accountable for our behavior. We can’t take a “Get out of Jail” card from another player. We are responsible for our actions and can’t blame the government, society or any body else for our behavioral issues.
I almost got off the train so that others could get on. I didn’t want to be a part of that behavior. Only problem…I don’t think I could have gotten to the door.
We each need to step up to the plate, accept our responsibility, repent of our sins and allow the Holy Spirit to work through us to be change-agents in the world we are in. If we continue to step back and take a passive position we are going to go down with the rest of our culture into the abyss of abject selfishness. It will truly be “every man/woman/child for themselves.” I don’t think I want to be around when it gets to that.
Watch today for opportunities to come in the opposite spirit of the world. Become others-centered. Model a Christ-like attitude in all you do. The world is watching for someone to show them the way.
