When doing the right thing hurts

So, another thing happened at the end of last year.

After watching Spiderman with the fam, my older son drove home. And quite uncharacteristically, he drove really close to a park car, and hit the side mirror.
We stopped by the side, and I got out to check. From 5 meters away, it didn't look so bad, the side mirror and bent outwards (which they are designed to do), and I quickly ran back, saying only minor damage - and we drove off.

And my conscience weighed heavily on me, in the drive home which took 10min. If I kept quiet, no one would really know, and I think we would have "gotten away" scot free. But I also remembered someone backing into my wife's car whilst at Eastwood a year back, and drove off - that was very annoying, and expensive to fix.

Loving your neighbor means that since I didn't appreciate that being done to me, I should not do that to others. Or rather, the loving thing to do is to own up. The owner may not know, but God knows. And I am setting an example for the family too - they'll know.

So dropping the family off, I drove back. Parked the car near there, walked casually to the damaged car - I saw bits and pieces on the floor (oh no), and basically the whole side mirror was wrecked. So I wrote a note, apologising for the accident, left my name and number, then left.

It was night time before the person texted me. She was really appreciative of me leaving a note, and thanked me (which I must say felt good, rather than being screamed at!). And even then, there was a nagging thought that said that "you should have just left!". Sin is funny that way, it finds ways to persuade you that doing the wrong thing is the norm, it's ok. But spirit of God continued to nudge my conscience.

Weeks go by, and no news (maybe she decided that the fix wasn't expensive and did it out of her own pocket?!!!). Well, last night, she finally texted me. She did say that people all around (including workshop folks) couldn't believe I owned up. The costs was $683, which I of course transferred.
I did try and milk it by sharing that it's only because I knew God was watching, and if I wasn't a Christian - I probably would have just drove off!

It's a small price to pay for my conscience and "holiness". Now the question is, should I get my son to pay all of it? some of it? He's really only going to clear his previous debt, and it is my conscience at play here. Maybe I'll take it off his "long term" savings which I've been holding for him (he doesn't remember it now), but it's feels wrong for him to pay for my conscience. Maybe 50:50 is the way to go.

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. 

James 4:17 ESV

Turning the Other Cheek on Murphy's Day

Sunday was an interesting day.

Started out bringing my youngest son cycling, having just bought our bikes a couple of weeks ago.

So we woke up 6ish, headed out at 7 to Jl. Sudirman (main street in Jakarta, right smack in the middle of town, but closed to traffic on Sundays for people to walk, jog, cycle etc). When I got there, we met our friends, and I had discovered my bike strangely having a flat tire, despite it being brand new, and I had cycled it back from the mall recently. So we pumped it up, and pumped, and pumped.

Hmm, still flat. There must be a puncture? But the bike is brand new, and I only rode it like 1 km back home and parked underground in the bike parking area. Anyway, my son heads off with our friends, and I pack up my bike. Not too happy about waking up so early for nothing! I did notice that there was a tear in the tire, looked like a "natural" tear, along the tire grooves, about 2 inches. Hmm. Grrr.

Time to go back, there was a massive jam trying to get out of the parking area. A newspaper (Kompas) had organized some charity run event, and it was a bottleneck getting in and out. We did eventually get out, and headed home, running very late for church!

So we quickly bathed, headed out the door.
Whilst at a traffic light, we were stationary, my phone buzzed, and strangely, saw an sms from my youth pastor saying he is running late for church? But before I knew anything, my car rolled forward (I thought my foot was on the brake fully), and bumped into the little car in front! Oh no.... good grief. Yes, I fully blame him, obviously.... couldn't have been my fault right?

I get out, see a big dent in his bumper, although my car looked fine. I apologized profusely, and we moved our car to the side. Young chap, wife and young child in the back - I was expecting him to be mad, but he was really nice. Asked if I had insurance (I do), gave him my name card, he gave me his handphone number, and off we went. That was it - he didn't get my driving license, a copy of the car registration. I could have given him a false name card, and easily change my phone number.

I realized later I had forgotten to take a picture of the dent, so I asked him to send a picture through his phone, which he kindly did. Even thanked me a few times... ?

Anyway, the next day, when I got my office to liaise with him, about the claim, we started chatting through whatsapp. Found out he was a Christian (which I suspected him putting his faith into practice when we had our little accident) - and he even offered to buy my family a meal if we ever got into his part of town.

Wow, hit a guy, get invited for a meal.
That is bizarre, but made me so thankful to God to meet a such a nice guy on a dreadful day. But it did then remind me of someone else. What can I say, it's really nice to be on the receiving end.

Matthew 5:38-41
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.  And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.