Advice

     Last time we gave advice, did we tell that someone to do what is right "for them" or did we tell them to do what was "finitely" right?  Did we tell them how painful doing the finitely right thing can be and to do it anyway?  Did it ever occur to us that we might be undermining the best outcome by defending them, excusing them, or staying out of "their business" ...in turn, justifying them, leaving them unaccountable and battling alone?  Will we ask them the hard questions and expect straight answers?
     Is it too much trouble to confront the denial and apathy, to disrupt the cycle, and to remind them who they are so that reversal and resolution can begin?  Are we out of our everlovin' minds to abandon the people we love to their own shame and strongholds for the "school of hard knocks" to cause irreversible damage ...permanent consequences.  What will we do when it's too little too late?  We'll keep praying?  Really?!  Are we brainwashed to think that's enough?
     If we don't know or don't care to know every detail and history, we are entirely unqualified to give advice, regardless of our concern in the best interest of a person.  If we don't know all the issues at hand we may be lending dangerous advice.  If we have no experience in that facet of life, what help are we really unless we direct them to The Author of their lives?  If we don't have our own lives together, do we really believe that person can benefit from our words alone?  (That in and of itself is a reason to keep our lives cleaned up for when our "call of duty" arises.)
     Yeah, we'll have to "judge" to "discern" when a person likely needs to be "snatched from the fire".  After drawing conclusions and being led by The Spirit without preconceived solutions, are we willing to sacrifice our own comfort level to hinder the spirit of destruction in their lives?   I am learning daily to despise the old and new adages:  "Kids will be kids,"  "He's a good ole boy,"  "She's 21," and "Whatever will be, will be."  My God is bigger than all this and I owe Him more than an additional name on my prayer list.
     You say that you remember "those days".  How did that turn out for you, doing things based on "feelings"?  I'm tired of adhering to "social law" that tells us to advise a "chin up" to the downtrodden.  What if they can't get their "chin up"?  What if we've left them fighting their pride to reach out for support?   What if someone is working against them?  And, believe me, there is always "someone" working against them, and us all.  What makes us rest in assurance that that person "knows better"?  Don't you know that the brain can disconnect itself from the heart?  They may need physical intercession until their heart begins to soften and mend.
     Are we "keeping our hands clean" so we have no personal accountability in the other person's decision making?  Are we setting that person up to fail by telling them to "be strong", while they're crying out for redemption?  I believe prayer is just the beginning of the "calling",  the "doing" that the book of James describes.  Faith is the beginning of "action" as Hebrews 11 recounts.
     So, I'm going to wear my "outrageous", "overreactiong/emotional exaggerration", "panties in a wad" description with honor and no ambivilence because through God, I can help determine the future.  I believe that it's not okay to pat a person on the back and say, "I'll be praying for you", then sit back and watch them be devoured.  Challenge yourself to see how far you will paddle out to offer a float to a drowning friend or relative ...even if they jumped in on their own.  Are you willing to give them refuge and reassurance?
     There's too much at stake to care how uncomfortable, painful, or inconvenient it's gonna be.  There's too much at stake to care who doesn't understand and gets mad.  It isn't over until it's over.  We claim to hope, to believe, to have faith, to want the best ...but are we willing to do anything about it for someone besides ourselves?  Is our "love" as far reaching as we claim?