It Wasn’t Me3 min read
Have you ever been in that situation? Someone asked you a question and you think, you know the real question they are not asking. To us, the question seems to be their way of saying “it was your fault”. So we don’t answer the question asked but rather the question we think they are asking. “It wasn’t me“.
Actually this is not new. I was reading the story in the Bible when Jesus went to the lame man at the pool. He asked the chap “Do you want to get well?” and the guy thinks Jesus is saying “man, you should have been well all these years, it’s your fault that you are where you are”. So the guy quickly starts with his version of “It wasn’t me”. “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
Guess what, Jesus was not concerned about that because He really wanted to know if he wanted to get well so he could be made well.
Like the lame man, I do that too – at work, at home and yes even when my wife asks me a question. Unfortunately, because I answer back based on what I think is on their mind, I end up affecting these relationships. Sometimes, these people were not even thinking about what I had in mind.
The problem is not with them. The problem is in my mind. One of the freedom we need to get on a personal level is to have our minds free from the fear of others. Why am I quick to defend myself? Perhaps, it’s simply because I want to protect the image that I think they should hold of me. But really who am I? As long as my identity depends on others, I will always be defending my turf.
I noticed something recently. It was easier to not defend myself when I was younger. As I grew older, the need to protect my self-image became more important. Perhaps it’s because I secretly have the fear of not wanting to restart building-up of people’s perception of me.
Unfortunately, if we are always fighting for our rights, we may never take advantage of the opportunity that Christ gives us to suffer for Him by giving up our rights. In certain cases, even when “it wasn’t me”, Christ may want us to shut up and take my medicine like a Christian.
Unless we shut up, we may never give Christ the opportunity to express Himself in that moment. Yes it hurts, but I guess that is why He is the healer and promises to reward our sacrifice. As we carry the Cross like He did, we can comfort ourselves in the knowledge that it is not in vain.
Have you had your “it wasn’t me” moments? What did you do and how did it turn out?
I would really appreciate if you can share below
