I was tired. Attending college and taking a full load of classes doesn’t leave a lot of room for outside activities. On top of that, I was working in the school cafeteria. There wasn’t any income or money to spend by working there, it all went to lower my room, board and tuition. Therefore, if I was to have any spending money, I had to work another job.
That second job was at the YMCA washing dirty towels, other assorted gym clothes and accessories. The YMCA was about a mile from our campus, so after I finished working at the cafeteria, I would run – literally run to the YMCA job. I had to run to get there on time. Then, four hours later, I would come back to the dorm and study till I dropped. Next morning I would do it all again – morning classes, work at the cafeteria, work at YMCA and come back to study. I was also trying to keep a relationship with a girlfriend at the same time.
One Saturday, I worked at the YMCA all morning. When I came back to the dorm, I was bushed from the week’s schedule. I was worn down. I flopped on my bed, dirty clothes still on and fell asleep. I shouldn’t have napped, I had too much to do, but I was just exhausted. It was meant to be just a little “power nap” – 20-30 minutes. I didn’t wake up for four hours.
When I woke up and looked at the clock, I shouted, “Oh, no!” Panicking, I cleaned up and headed over to my girlfriend’s. We had a date set for four o’clock and it was now five o’clock. We had no cell phones back then and no way to explain what had happened. When I finally got to her dorm, she refused to come meet me. She sent messages through her dorm mates. In her mind, there was nothing in all this world that was worse than being “stood up” on a date.
After sending up several advocates pleading my cause, she was persuaded to at least meet me. Wow! What a chilly reception I received. We never did go out on that date. We just had a couple of hours of very serious conversation. She did finally forgive me when she saw that I had honestly fallen asleep for too long. But, she let me know in no uncertain terms, that it better not happen again, ever!
How good is your word? Can people count on you, rely on you? Do you actually do what you say you are going to do? In the book of James in the Bible we are told, “But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your ‘yes’ be yes and your ‘no’ be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.” (James 5:12 ESV) I like the way The Message translation says this verse so that it becomes clear. “Don’t add words like “I swear to God” to your own words. Don’t show your impatience by concocting oaths to hurry up God. Just say yes or no. Just say what is true. That way, your language can’t be used against you.”
I didn’t mean to mislead my girlfriend, but she sure thought I did. I was tired; I should have known to set an alarm. Then. I wouldn’t have been late and in trouble. My words would have meant exactly what I said, “4 p.m.” We need to be that truthful and sincere with all that we say.
– Just a Thought Dale Fillmore is lead pastor at New Day Church.
