Posts Tagged: “Will this be on the test?”

“ON BEING EVALUATED AS A GUEST”

On August 6, 2018 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

“And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.” (Matthew 12:36, New Living Translation)

“And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment,” (Hebrews 9:27, New Living Translation)

My wife and I, for our forty-fifth wedding anniversary, took a nice trip to Hocking Hills State Park.  We stayed in an Airbnb.  We’ve stayed in bed and breakfast establishments before, but not an Airbnb.  I did not realize that it isn’t just the b & b that is evaluated by the guests.  The guests are also evaluated by the person who runs the b & b.

Our host gave us a glowing review, which I appreciated a lot.  However, this whole set-up has set me to thinking about other evaluations.

For example, I believe in a final judgment by God.  What will he say about me as His guest?

But it’s not just God.  What about the other guests I interact with while I’m here?  In a sense, they are also my hosts.  After all, I depend upon them in many ways and for many things.  How would they evaluate me as a guest?

My softball coach?

My teammates?

My church sisters and brothers?

My twelve-step fellow soldiers?

My Hebrew students?

My wife?  (Oh, my!  Now there’s an important review!)

But also, what about the people with whom I have more casual contact?  The server who takes care of me when I go out to eat?  My chiropractor?  Other drivers on the highway?

Would all of these people—and many more—give me a good review.  Would they rank me as kind and polite?

And then there is the planet itself.  Do I strive to leave it in a clean and respectful manner?  If the earth could talk, what would the earth have to say about my time here?  Perhaps the earth can talk, and the real problem is that I don’t listen.

All teachers know that, no matter what subject is being taught, there is one question every student wants to ask: “Will this be on the test?”

Perhaps if I started every day knowing what the questions are (and I generally do know that), I would live more mindfully.  Knowing that I will be reviewed might make me a better person.

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