Character Tree 5: ACTIONS
April 27th, 2009 by Suzie Potter received No Comments »
When I think of the concept of ACTION, it makes me think deeper . . . what causes the ACTION, why does it happen, what effects does it have, where does it come from? I am fascinated by science – how things work, and have been since a young age (thanks Dad and Mom for your part in this curiosity!) For the past weeks, we have been exploring the concept of the CHARACTER TREE, processing the effects of our THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, ATTITUDES, and WORDS. Our ACTIONS are not independent of other parts of our life. They are a result of what has been growing inside us. ACTIONS are definitely something that is seen on the outside of us.
Newton’s 3rd law of Motion says, “For every ACTION, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Basically, what this is saying to me is that whenever something is done (an ACTION) there is always another force that is also happening. Forces come in pairs. I am not on an island by myself, where what I do only effects me (like Tom Hanks in the movie Cast Away with is volleyball friend “Wilson”.) I am surrounded by others. Our ACTIONS have a paired effect on the others around us, and cause reactions in them. And at the same time our ACTIONS have a paired effect or a reaction from the THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, ATTITUDES and WORDS that we have been growing in our CHARACTER TREE.
Joseph (in the Bible) was a man who suffered a lot of junk as a result of the ACTIONS of his brothers. They were jealous of him because of his beautiful coat, and the favor of his father. They sold him to some guys going by in a camel train, which made Joseph go from a well taken care of young man, to slavery. Uggh. What was the reACTION of Joseph? This was the moment when the health of his CHARACTER TREE showed. His ACTIONS were incredibly Godly. God used this awful situation to bring freedom for the Israelites (and especially his family – as they got to eat). A normal reACTION for Joseph could have been to be bitter and to survive his circumstances, but he chose different ways to THINK and FEEL, and was elevated because of his ATTITUDES, WORDS and ACTIONS.
We always have a choice with our WORDS and ACTIONS. My Dad has constant pain in his hips as he is getting older. Last week he said something to me that has really stuck with me. I told him that I get grouchy when I am in pain and don’t feel good, and here he has had this constant pain for the last 2+ years. I asked him how he managed it. He said he can make everyone around him miserable with his reACTION to the pain, or choose to make things nice for them, by not complaining. My mom says he never complains. He always has really nice things to say to the people around him (even in the midst of such pain). That to me is a definite choice of ACTION, which has a paired effect of good on those of us around him.
What kind of ACTION choices are you going to make this week? Don’t forget about the paired response that your ACTION will have on both yourself and others around you. Choose wisely!
Tags: actions, Character Tree
Posted under: NEX-GEN Everywhere, Uncategorized
