Life in the Way

The Crosswalk.

My daughter and son both started school the other day, they are at two different schools in our district (which is a walking district). I have 15 minutes to pick one child up from class, walk to the car, drive to the other school, walk to the school and pick the other one up. There is on street parking only and the distance to walk is considerable, especially considering I am dragging my 3 year old with me. That is the scenario. Here is the problem…

I met Grandpappy who picks up his granddaughter after school everyday. He is a Marine that served in Vietnam. My father serve at about the same time and the similarities this gentleman and my father share are quite amazing. But amazement aside, he thinks like my father and when he was sharing his secrets for getting in and out of the school quickly, I gave it a try and like any good Marine he had scoped out the area and determined the quickest way in and out (just like my father would have systematically eliminated each option to come to the same conclusion - their thinking process seems to be alike).

So, the other day, while escaping from the school on Marine route Alpha, I was stopped by the principal of the school, whom I know and have a good working relationship as a pastor in our small town. She said that I was setting a bad example by not crossing with the other parents in the crosswalk up the road. I just smiled and made a harmless, but forthright comment that I would consider her suggestion and then continued on my way.

So, today came and walked out with this gentleman and we talked about the situation with the principal. He too was spoken to about crossing at his spot, but he call the police department to make sure there was not legal infraction. And in fact there was not an infraction. He was armed with this information, just in case anyone was to approach him. But when the time came I departed from the Marine route Alpha to which I was given a curious look (nothing bad or overt, but I felt uncomfortable).

So, here is my dilemma, if I begin walking with mob, I will inevitably feel bad because I will have to rush to get to my son (and probably break traffic laws trying to get to his school on time) and possibly tarnished a strong social connection that was forming. If I continue to use Marine route Alpha, I will feel guilty everyday as I walk by the school officials that are just trying to make the mad rush safe and possibly tarnish the relationship with the faculty that I occasionally work with. Option three (a highly improbable option) would be to try and get a salty Marine to decide to walk with me by helping him to understand the necessity to re-route to Marine route Bravo.

Pastorally, I am faced with these types of decisions all the time. The situations are similar because there are multiple factors involved and when you win, you often lose something (or someone). For example, what should the color of a new sanctuary carpet be or who is asked to serve in what capacity with in the leadership of the church. There are even more drastic measures like: inviting sinners into the fellowship or unpopular people or even new people. "Choose who you lose" is the way a pastor once preached it, but I don’t want to lose anyone (and I imagine that neither does the Good Shepherd). Yet, Jesus lost many of the Pharisees and scribes, God lost the rich man, etc.

Well, all things considered what would you do - Marine route Alpha or the crosswalk or other and why?