When June 12, 2007
Posted by Han in : Life's Challenge , trackbackI had always thought that life is like a battleground. From early in the morning to late in the evening, we need to prepare ourselves for the unforeseen battle that is ahead of us. What would you do when you wake up early in the morning trying to get to work and discover that your car had been stolen?
Next, as you step into the office trying to have a good start at work but instead got scolded from your Superior for not getting things done properly and when you get home in the evening, you suddenly received news that your close one had met with an accident. Under all these circumstances, all of us would have to act either by reacting or responding accordingly. However, depending on our actions, i.e. to react or respond, different results will be produced.
Understanding Reaction and Respond
Reaction is defined as an “Involuntary Auto Stimulant Respond” or simply; we could call it as an uncontrollable responsive effect. For example, when our knee is hit with a hammer, it will automatically react by kicking upwards. Many a times when in our work place or when especially we have to work with someone else, we tend to react when we receive criticisms. For those who had worked in team projects or assignments, how would we react when someone attempts to push all the blame on us for the failed project? What about when someone talks bad about us behind our back? Obviously, for most of us we would react by switching ourselves to our “quick counter-attacking” mode so as to get to nail the person down as quickly as possible.
Respond on the other hand represents action that requires us to think through. This means that we would first need to be aware of the problems we are in; followed by the need to develop a strategy on what is to be responded to the problems or situation.
In either reaction or respond, both will result in “acts” being produced. Needless to say, we would love to choose the acts that will give us the best results. To know which is best for us, we will have to look further into the acts of reaction and respond.
The Acts of Reaction
By examining the acts of reaction, perhaps we can often equate it with “Payback Act” which is basically acts of seeking revenge. Such acts are prohibited as the word says in 1 Thessalonians 5:15 “See that no one repays evil with evil but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone”.
Reaction often ends up with anger, frustrations, sadness and tend to be very emotional. When we allow our emotions to take charge of ourselves, the result is often disastrous as we end up by reacting. In a recent murder case in Singapore, a drunkard man was killed simply because he had accidentally placed his hand on the window of a new car parked aside while walking pass it. The driver of the new car reacted by rushing out of his car when he saw the handprints imprinted on the window of his new car. An argument broke out and the driver killed the man instantly with a stick out of anger.
The Acts of Respond
On the other hand, respond is often associated with acts of kindness even though bad things had happened to us. For example, in Mark 11: 27 – 33, we saw how the chief priests and elders in the temple in Jerusalem challenged the authority of Jesus. Look at how Jesus reacts? Instead of hurling insults at them for questioning his authority, Jesus chooses to respond wisely by asking them a question first.
Respond is when we are calm and allow ourselves to think through in our mind. To develop respond, we need to pray and ask for this special gift such as giving a smile when you see that things are bad. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to take control of us rather then allowing the emotions or ourselves to take charge. In order to respond, we need to exercise and flex this spiritual muscle in us, which is the fruit of the spirit where God had granted us - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Conclusion
So remember, the next time when things goes wrong or when you get scolded by your close one or at work – breathe in, stay calm, allow the spirit to take charge and smile. From there, you will find that the way we use to tackle and manage problems would be much more of a holistic approach which is effective, friendlier & efficient.
Article by: Reuson Seet
Comments»
amen!
shall learn to respond instead of react!
^^
Right but must admit, without the filling of the Holy Spirit its always very difficult to stay calm & respond rationally. Well, I guess thats why exercising daily to stay fit both physically & spiritually means so much to us!