Friday was a day of conflicting priorities. I was attempting to fill the big gap left when my supervisor left for a well-deserved vacation. I had to manage a large and diverse workforce to support communications for one of our most challenging diplomatic missions. When I arrived at work, I discovered two of my team members were sick and wouldn’t be there to help. With my boss gone, other people off, and now two more out, our challenges increased.
Susan called in the middle of our staff meeting, but I told her I couldn’t talk right then. That must have been too much for her because she called back within 30 minutes and quizzed my coworker about his virtual private network (VPN). Susan was looking all over for help since my suggestion “to wait” wasn’t acceptable. Our VPN (internet) had been down for days and that left her without a major source of entertainment. With many of her friends gone and Beijing in a virtual lockdown for the end of WWII anniversary celebration, she was desperate to find a solution. She asked if I would take the day off and help her. I felt bad, but I couldn’t take off due to my work responsibilities. I did make it a priority to ask our VPN provider for help.
Another conflicting priority is playing out between Syria and the world. When war broke out in Syria it wasn’t a priority for much of the world. No country wanted to get dragged into another complicated struggle in the Middle East. After all, it was their problem, and it was too hard to figure out who the “good guys” were. The lack of decisive action early on, combined with huge military withdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan created an opening for Islamic extremists to move in.
The resulting human tidal wave of refugees is overwhelming every country the people pass through and hope to settle in. If the world had spent the “ounce of prevention” perhaps they could have avoided the “pound of cure” they are faced with now. The picture of a child who died on the journey has raised both awareness and the priority to find a solution.
There is another decision that should be a priority. GOD should be the highest priority in our lives, and we must accept Him as our Savior. Serving GOD isn’t always easy, but “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) and living in sin causes problems that get worse as time passes. Even more important if you die in your sin the consequences will never end. If you make GOD your priority you will gain “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding” (Phil 4:7) now. He made you His priority by giving you the “gift of GOD, eternal life” (Rom 6:23).
Wayne Lance (2015) – That’s Good News to Share!