Suppress that skepticism and pride.
When in NCC traning. Whenever there are any officers that have to shout at us, i will hear some skeptical whisper criticizing the specialist or officer. I could hear gossips, cowardy gossips.
but what that inspired me to post this message is because of the pride and hypocrisy of man.
Whenever a officer shouts at us when it is OUR fault, for example, inability to fall in on time, there will be people complaning that this officer is stupid, gay, retarted, pms, crazy. Sometimes, of course, it is the officer's fault when he insults someone sacarsitcally, or gives a command in a sacarstic way. But what we ought to show them is respect, in a parade, or when they have a time to take authority. God placed authority over us.
What vexes me is the pride of these men when they blame on the person in charge for their harshness, when it is their mistake. When we make a mistake, we should be remorseful, and try not to do that again. Do not criticize someone for your mistake. When have we (refering to NCC cadets) ever changed? The officers say that we took things too slowly and they have to nag and scold and shout at us for that. When can we ever change for the better and stop that prideful grumbling?
Reason is simple. We are too skeptical and proud.
So proud that we could not be humble enough to admit our mistakes and change for the better.
Sometimes, when your pride does not take the better of you, many accidents could have been prevented.
For example, there is a time when my platoon has to go for physical exercise. we have to jog one round around the school. Then we are blocking a basketballer's path. For basketballers have to train their stamina, they cannot stop running. So the basketballer, without much thinking, pulled my platoon mate's shirt and overtook him. Then his pride got the better. He cursed the basketballer loudly. Consequently, the basketballer stopped and almost fought with my platoon mate. But he told him to relax. Then when the basketballer continued, my platoon mate did the same thing, then the same thing happened.
I, running aside with them, am surely not happy with what that basketballer had done. But i knew that these people must train, and they cannot think well while jogging. Then a word of insult that suddenly pricked them, they would be enraged. But think before you do. Keep quiet, and pray for those who persecute you. Love them. That love does not mean that you can forever be used by them. That's not right. When a person keeps taking advantage of you, stand up and defend yourself. Just defend to tell them that you are not to be taken advantage of. Thats it. Dont go on whack them. God does not want that. He is God's creation as well.
Remember, your pride is one of the most destructive factors for your spiritual growth and your walk with God. You must have personal pride. You could have as much as you want. But you must have much more humility. In your shortcomings, admit them. So you could change.
Do not let this distract your walk with God.
