Do Not Just Strive For Excellence

I stepped out to the Intake yard to get some fresh air and get rid of the burning sensation irritating my throat and my lungs. The deputies just used the pepper spray to cease the fist fights that occurred in one of the sobering cells which contained 5 drunk bodies.

The big fan didn’t help to dissipate the choking smell. It had spread more. As I warned newly-arrived Highway Patrol troopers bringing in another drunk arrestee. That man hit himself with the handcuffs on his wrists, acting strangely as blood alcohol level was drawn by the nurse in a separate room, meant for that purpose. There was no injury but he etched a mild abrasion on his mid-forehead. As he was overcome with the stinging pepper spray smell, he started coughing. He became combative to our Intake deputies. He was dragged to another cell, as his screaming voice echoed in all the corners of the prison’s Intake.

“Nurse!” hollered the Intake deputy. “We need you to check that guy acting out! He’s bleeding!”

“Bleeding? What did he do?” I queried.

“I’m not sure,” answered the deputy.

I brought my equipment to check his vital signs, only to be surprised with the sight of scattered pools of blood on the floor. The inmate’s left face was covered with dripping bright red blood. Getting saline and gauzes to clean him up, I didn’t even notice that I accidentally stepped on one of the red puddles and the sole of my shoe was covered with that man’s blood.

I cleaned his face well. There was no open laceration. No swelling. The abrasion he caused to himself earlier became visible. I knew something happened but I couldn’t prove what was done to make him cooperate.

The man became sober after 2 hours. He never complained of any pain. When I rechecked his mouth when he was more cooperative, there was no active bleeding. All of his teeth were intact.

I knew there were 5 deputies in that cell when I got there. I wasn’t accusing any of them that someone or most of them did this injury to this man. Because it was also possible that the man did this to himself since he already hit himself with the handcuffs earlier. It would be hard to prove something when there was no clear evidence.

Those deputies might have done their best to pacify a combative man. But even if they did an excellent job of doing so, I wondered if someone or some truly followed the protocols given them in handling such things?



Not all of us are called to be missionaries.We may not be a missionary, true, but we are all called to be His ambassadors. We are asked to be obedient to what He wants us to do for His Holy Name.

When we start with the work Christ started in each of us, there is a fine line between doing an excellent work and being obedient. We must be careful that when we are opting for excellence, we are not doing the work for our own benefits. We are to glorify Christ in everything that we say or do. The truth about Him and in Him should not be suppressed just to protect our work or life-style. If we claim we are God’s people, let’s reflect the way God is like in everything. Let us not strive for excellence but aim for obedience instead. And that’s what truly honors Him. To me, that is excellence!

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” - John 14:15

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” - Luke 6:46

16 comments:

  1. God definitely calls each of us to be obedient...thank you!
    Blessings and hugs,
    andrea

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  2. The Word of God often hits me like pepper spray to sober me up (spiritually speaking) and cause me to be obedient to His word.

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  3. What a great video Rosel. Our obedience will lead to excellence won't it? :o) God bless you today!

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  4. I admire how you consistenly crank out good articles that cause us to think and reflect. I know how much time that takes. I can't always find it. My hat off to you!

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  5. Amen! We are not to do the right thing just to pat ourselves and the back and say, Look at me! I did the right thing! But so that the power of the Holy Spirit can me magnified in our lives!!!

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  6. so true what you said here...learning to be the best we can for HIm...as His reps. Take gentle care and stay safe out there. sarah

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  7. I'm like Old Geezer above... the Word of God tends to smack me in the face with pepper spray while I'm reading it.

    Great post as always. I love coming here! God bless you, sweet lady!

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  8. Words of truth Rosel. Thank you for your encouraging words to me on my blog as well.

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  9. From one ambassador to another, let's be obedient, always!

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  10. Obedience brings such blessing -- why do we struggle with it so? Oh yeah, our flesh. Our spirit is willing, but our flesh is weak.

    Lord, help us to be obedient.

    Great post Rosel.

    Blessings and hugs,
    Lisa

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  11. You are putting yourself in harm's way working at the prison, with the risk of contacting aids and other diseases. But yet you continue forward, knowing God goes before you. And for that...I thank you.

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  12. Bless you sis, love your new blog look.

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  13. rcubes,
    God bless you in this ministry for Him!
    nikonsniper steve

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  14. I adore your contrast here - God doesn't call for excellence but He does call for obedience.

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  15. Love the St. Patty's green background Rosel.

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  16. All the different ways God has chosen to display his glory in creation and redemption seem to reach their culmination in the praises of his redeemed people. God governs the world with glory precisely that he might be admired, marveled at, exalted and praised. The climax of his happiness is the delight he takes in the echoes of his excellence in the praises of the saints.

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"Faith is taking the first step even if you don't see the whole staircase..."
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

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