I have someone close to me who is very much in the flesh right now. They are cussing more and more. They are back to listening to music you know they once gave up. They still go to church ... but their attitude is different. They don't seem to have much interest in the Bible or worship music anymore. They are even doing a few things I know their spouse would not appreciate. They haven't crossed a line ... but you know they are dancing close to the edges.
It is weird. I see what is coming clearly. It is like when the ice was on the roads and this kid lost control of his car. I saw it coming. He was driving like a bat out of a cave of fire ... the roads had ice on them and the curve was coming up fast. He lost control of his car right in front of me.
The thing is ... what to do? Do I talk to them about their behavior? Bring it to their attention that I see what they are doing and how they are acting? Knowing them ... they will probably be like that kid in the car who flipped me off when I told them to slow down. It will probably start a fight. Or I can just pray for them and hope for the best. I can pray that God will lead them back to Him and they will put all this other stuff behind them.
I feel like I should say something ... but the part of me that just hates drama is saying to just pray. Leave it to God. This person is grown. They know what they are doing. Talking to them is not going to change it and it will probably make it worse. They are already in that ... "I know everything and you can't tell me squat" mode.
I hate it though. I really do.
When I was trained as a firefighter/EMT, one battalion chief put it this way "Which would you prefer - rescue or recovery (of a body)? If it is safe to enter, you go in - our gear and our training cuts many of the risks down, but it doesn't eliminate them. If it isn't safe, you don't risk your life for someone likely already dead - that's a recovery task."
If they haven't danced off the edges yet, you may be able to help effect a rescue so long as you don't go in alone, make certain you know it is fire, not smoke - and keep an exit behind you so that you can go in and come out safely.
God, grant me the serenity, etc...
Thanks, Rick! I appreciate it. I think I am going to watch the situation unfold for a few more days ... to make sure that it is a fire and not smoke. I am hoping it is just smoke. The kind of smoke from the pan left on the stove but nothing is actually on fire. Hoping and praying. :)