Mrs. Warren’s trigonometry class. Or was it Mr. Schneller’s chemistry class? The words “POP QUIZ” instilled fear in my heart as a high school student. Would I remember what had been taught the day before? Why am I drawing a blank on this formula? Why did I procrastinate doing my homework?!? Ugh. Should’ve paid better attention. Should’ve been better prepared. Should’ve gone to bed earlier so that my brain wasn’t so fuzzy.
A few weeks ago I wrote about the danger of making assumptions. And, as often happens, life sometimes gives us a pop quiz to see how well we’ve learned our lessons. In other words, do I practice what I preach — or in this case, blog about??
Well, two days ago I had a pop quiz.
We get together weekly with some friends for Bible study and prayer. A time of hanging out with one another — catching up on what’s been happening in our lives. One couple couldn’t come because they were sick. Another couple said they had a conflict and also wouldn’t make it.
At least that is what I assumed.
We then got together for dinner with a third couple from our group. BUT… we received a text from the couple I had assumed couldn’t come wondering where and when the group would be meeting.
On, no!!! What have I done?!?
Pop quiz on assumptions! And I flunked! As a result, I now needed to talk this through with the others so that my goof doesn’t cause any additional misunderstandings and/or negatively influence our relationships. Ugh.
I’m not the only one who flunked a quiz on assumptions. Our friends the Israelites flunked BIG TIME!
After the incident I shared about in the “Danger of Assumptions” blog (see link below), the Israelites — both those who had settled on the western side of the Jordan River and those on the eastern side — joined forces to conquer the land.
So far, so good.
The land was conquered. Everyone went home. But before the eastern tribes returned to their homes across the Jordan River, they built a large altar. The other tribes — the ones who lived on the western side of the river — had a fit! They assumed the worst.
[We, the western tribes] demand to know why you [the eastern tribes] are betraying the God of Israel. How could you turn away from the Lord and build an altar for yourselves in rebellion against Him?… today you are turning away from following the Lord. If you rebel against [Him] today, He will be angry with all of us tomorrow… do not rebel against the Lord or against us by building an altar other than the one true altar of the Lord our God.
Joshua 22: 16-19
They were SO angry about this that they were ready to make war against their fellow Israelites!
Fortunately, instead of taking matters into their own hands and starting a war, they first sent a delegation to check things out. AND… what had been an erroneous assumption was cleared up.
The truth is, we [the tribes of the eastern side of the river] have built this altar because we fear that in the future your descendants [those on the other side of the river] will say to ours, ‘What right do you have to worship the Lord, the God of Israel? The Lord has placed the Jordan River as a barrier between our people and [yours]. You have no claim to the Lord.’
So your descendants may prevent [ours] from worshiping the Lord. So we decided to build the altar… as a memorial. It will remind our descendants and [yours] that we, too, have the right to worship the Lord… it is a reminder of the relationship both of us have with the Lord.
Joshua 22: 24-28
Whew! A bloodbath averted.
I’m adding a few items to my list of things being learned about assumptions:
- Beware of jumping to conclusions!!!
- Make it a habit to first verify ALL the info… to make sure you’re not missing something or misreading the situation.
- Lay aside your own prejudices and preconceived ideas.
- Recognize that our own impatience often adds fuel to the fire! It’s better to err on the side of caution than to barge ahead only knowing part of the story.
- Cultivate a habit of listening not only to the other person’s words but also to their heart. To the unspoken things that are “heard” by paying attention to one’s countenance and body language.
- Recognize how wanting to stick to OUR agenda, OUR plans can hijack our perspective.
Back to my dilemma… I talked with our friends. Everything was resolved. And now, thankfully, I can — without regret or wondering if everything is ok — continue to have joy in the journey of this things called “Life!”
Joy in the Journey 