Believe it or not, I'm not trying to get the "Old McDonald Had a Farm" song stuck in your head.  I'm really talking about the slippery-slope of how and why we do the things we do....

Every day, we are confronted with situations where we may be asked to "tweak" or "fudge" a little here, a little there, etc.,  Before we know it, the situation could get out of hand, and have consequences we could hardly imagine at the onset.  Here's an example of what I'm talking about....

Back in college, when I was entering my freshman year, my advisor had asked all of his "minions" to get together and help support his quest for tenure.  I had just met the man, as it was my first week on campus freshman year (this is back in 1989).  I thought it a bit odd that somebody I hardly knew would ask me to support him, when I honestly knew nothing about him.  

Sure, I assumed he was (is) an honorable man.  Sure, I assumed he had (has) good intentions, and certainly hoped he was a terrific professor!  But, something about the request has stuck with me even today, 21 years later.  Well, I decided NOT to support him.  I was honest with him and told him why - I couldn't support something and someone I knew nothing about - call it a Proverbs 27:6 situation. It was as black and white as that - no question.  I wasn't willing to compromise my morals, even if the man were as terrific as everyone suggested ~ I simply didn't know and because of that couldn't support the situation.

Fast forward 2 years.  I am now a junior in college.  I had decided to take on international business as my major area of study.  I wanted to travel to Japan and learn the culture, language, and of course the martial arts!  Ah, my advisor decided not to approve my paperwork for travel, and I was left in small-town Iowa to continue my studies....

Fast-forward 1 year.  I'm now a senior in college and I actually have my advisor for one of my last courses before graduating.  Ironically, all that time he unfortunately was bitter about the decision I had made about not supporting him and his quest for tenure.  Guess what happened!  He flunked me (had never happened in any class, ever before!)  I knew why, it was readily apparent.  

Although I could go on about this particular situation, I must say one reason why it has stuck with me for this long is simple - even now, after knowing what transpired after my freshman year, I would not have reversed my decision.  Why?

Simple, I needed to stand up for what I believed.  I didn't know enough about this person, his motivations, or what he would do with the "power of tenure."  To this day I am proud of the decision I made.  Yeah, it didn't allow me to travel and study abroad.  I didn't get the most stellar law school reference letter from him.  The lesson I've carried with me is simple - don't back down, don't "tweak" your ethics or morals just so it can help you get ahead.  

There's lots of situations - from "using a relatives address" to get the kids into a better school, to keeping your dealer license plates on the car for 12+ months, that is a simple "tweak" here and there.  Before you know it, 'everywhere there is a tweak, tweak...."

Likewise, with your training in the martial arts - don't compromise yourself.  Consider the following if you have one of those moments where your ethics or morals could be compromised:

"Do it heartily as unto the Lord," as the Bible says in Colossians 3:23.   If you do, your motivations will turn from inward, to focusing on how to glorify Him!

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. (Isaiah 55:8)  Ask yourself, "what would Jesus do" in this situation?

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Proverbs 27:6.If I had only remembered this one during my college years....

May God give you strength and discernment as you train, focus, and understand those around you.

In Him,

Chiburi